Yasunari Kawabata Quotes

Because you cannot see him, God is everywhere.

god

Put your soul in the palm of my hand for me to look at, like a crystal jewel. I'll sketch it in words..

writing

The baby understands that its mother loves it. [..] Words have their origin in baby talk, so words have their origin in love.

words

The road was frozen. The village lay quiet under the cold sky. Komako hitched up the skirt of her kimono and tucked it into her obi. The moon shone like a blade frozen in blue ice.

imagery

The winter moon becomes a companion, the heart of the priest, sunk in meditation upon religion and philosophy, there in the mountain hall, is engaged in a delicate interplay and exchange with the moon; and it is this of which the poet sings.

philosophy religion

The Tale of Genji in particular is the highest pinnacle of Japanese literature. Even down to our day there has not been a piece of fiction to compare with it. That such a modern work should have been written in the eleventh century is a miracle, and as a miracle the work is widely known abroad.

literature miracles work