Yoshida Kenkō Quotes

“All things of this phenomenal world are mere illusion. They are worth neither discussing nor desiring.”

“If you follow the ways of the world, your heart will be drawn to its sensual defilements and easily led astray; if you go among people, your words will be guided by others' responses rather than come from the heart.”

“It harms a man more to wound his heart than to hurt his body.”

“It is the ephemeral nature of things that makes them wonderful.”

“Only a boring man will always want things to match; real quality lies in irregularity – another excellent remark.”

“The longer you live, the greater your share of shame.”

“There is a deep contradiction in failing to enjoy life and yet fearing death when faced with it.”

“There is nothing finer than to be alone with nothing to distract you.”

“Those who feel the impulse to pursue the path of enlightenment should immediately take the step, and not defer it while they attend to all the other things on their mind.”

“Why should it be so difficult to carry something out right now when you think of it, to seize the instant?”