Natsume Soseki

Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) was a Japanese writer, novelist, essayist, and a professor. He explored Western literary theories, attempted to answer questions on nature of literature, and examined relationship between art and nature. He advocated expression of law of nature through specific and realistic terms rather than universal or abstract language.

Wisdom & Quotes

• The artist, even when he imitates nature, always feels himself to be not a slave but a demigod.
• Man cuts man with knives and cruel words, never suspecting his turn for being cut will follow. Nature abhors a vacuum. Either love or hatred! Nature likes compensation. Tit for tat! Nature likes a fight. Death or independence!
• The profundity of a creative work lies in the degree to which its contents can be summarized in one sentence - a sentence that penetrates human reality.
• Some say that life has no form, that it is extremely diffuse. I think I can agree with them. …A life without conclusions is painful.
• On a charcoal kiln

A vine keeps climbing, while
Being burned to death.

Luigi Pirandello