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The Tale of Genji

Murasaki Shikibu

Top 10 Best Quotes

“Real things in the darkness seem no realer than dreams.”

“There are as many sorts of women as there are women.”

“The world know it not; but you, Autumn, I confess it: your wind at night-fall stabs deep into my heart”

“No art or learning is to be pursued halfheartedly...and any art worth learning will certainly reward more or less generously the effort made to study it.”

“Life is full of uncertainties, perhaps one day some unforeseen circumstance would bring her into his life once more”

“Ceaseless as the interminable voices of the bell-cricket, all night till dawn my tears flow.”

“You that in far-off countries of the sky can dwell secure, look back upon me here; for I am weary of this frail world's decay.”

“One ought not to be unkind to a woman merely on account of her plainness, any more than one had a right to take liberties with her merely because she was handsome”

“You are here to remind me of someone I long for, and what is it you long for yourself? We must have been together in an earlier life, you and I.”

“The bond between husband and wife is a strong one. Suppose the man had hunted her out and brought her back. The memory of her acts would still be there, and inevitably, sooner or later, it would be cause for rancor. When there are crises, incidents, a woman should try to overlook them, for better or for worse, and make the bond into something durable. The wounds will remain, with the woman and with the man, when there are crises such as I have described. It is very foolish for a woman to let a little dalliance upset her so much that she shows her resentment openly. He has his adventures--but if he has fond memories of their early days together, his and hers, she may be sure that she matters. A commotion means the end of everything. She should be quiet and generous, and when something comes up that quite properly arouses her resentment she should make it known by delicate hints. The man will feel guilty and with tactful guidance he will mend his ways. Too much lenience can make a woman seem charmingly docile and trusting, but it can also make her seem somewhat wanting in substance. We have had instances enough of boats abandoned to the winds and waves. It may be difficult when someone you are especially fond of, someone beautiful and charming, has been guilty of an indiscretion, but magnanimity produces wonders. They may not always work, but generosity and reasonableness and patience do on the whole seem best.”

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Book Keywords:

voices, reality, death, soul, remembrance, rewards, art, cricket, learning, tears, fate, longing-for-someone, soulmate, sadness, life, darkness, dawn, decay, love, japanese, crying, night, you-and-i, effort, dreams, philosophy, appearance

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