Home / Authors / Sei Shonagon

Sei Shonagon

Sei Shonagon Quotes

Author

Sei Shonagon was a Japanese court lady and author who lived from 966 to 1017. She is renowned for her work 'The Pillow Book', a compilation of personal anecdotes, observations, and reflections on court life during the Heian period. Her writing is noted for its wit, humor, and insightful observations.

Filter quotes by topic

All Ifs Pleasure Stills Affair Behave Behavior Break Certain Dark Dawn

Famous Sei Shonagon Quotes

“If letters did not exist, what dark depressions would come over one! When one has been worrying about something and wants to tell a certain person about it, what a relief it is to put it all down in a letter! Still greater is one's joy when a reply arrives. At that moment a letter really seems like an elixir of life.”

Ifs Want Persons Has Beens Stills Moments Seems Joy Certain Dark Worry Greater Letters Relief That Moment Elixir Elixir Of Life

Author:Sei Shonagon

“If someone with whom one is having an affair keeps on mentioning some woman whom he knew in the past, however long ago it is since they separated, one is always irritated.”

Ifs Long Past Affair Jealousy Long Ago Irritated

Author:Sei Shonagon

“A good lover will behave just as elegantly at dawn as at any other time.”

Lovers Dawn Behave Good Love Good Lovers

Author:Sei Shonagon

“In life there are two things which are dependable. The pleasures of the flesh and the pleasures of literature.”

Two Literature Pleasure Flesh Two Things Dependable

Author:Sei Shonagon

“Pleasing things: finding a large number of tales that one has not read before. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed. But often it is a disappointment.”

Firsts Numbers Findings Disappointment Tales Enjoyed Volume Large Numbers

Book:The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

Source: The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

“A man who has nothing in particular to recommend him discusses all sorts of subjects at random as if he knew everything.”

Ifs Men Subjects Particular

Book:The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

Source: The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

“There is nothing in the whole world so painful as feeling that one is not liked.”

World Whole Feelings Painful Whole World

Book:The pillow-book of Sei Shonagon: Translated by Arthur Waley

Source: The pillow-book of Sei Shonagon: Translated by Arthur Waley

“One is telling a story about old times when someone breaks in with a little detail that he happens to know, implying that one's own version is inaccurate — disgusting behavior!”

Knows Littles Stories Happens Break Behavior Details Versions Disgusting Old Time Implying

Book:The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

Source: The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

“To wash one's hair, make one's toilet, and put on scented robes; even if not a soul sees one, these preparations still produce an inner pleasure.”

Ifs Stills Soul Self Pleasure Produce Hair Preparation Toilets Robes

Book:The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

Source: The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

About the Author

Born: 966
Died: 1017
Known for: Author
Quotes: 9

Related Topics

Ifs Pleasure Stills Affair Behave Behavior Break Certain Dark Dawn

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The Pillow Book of Sei ShōnagonRelated source material

The pillow-book of Sei Shonagon: Translated by Arthur WaleyRelated source material

Similar Authors

Theodore MartinBrowse related quotes
Hermann Franz Moritz KoppBrowse related quotes
Jeanette WintersonBrowse related quotes
D. H. LawrenceBrowse related quotes
David LevithanBrowse related quotes
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheBrowse related quotes
George EliotBrowse related quotes
C. S. LewisBrowse related quotes
Gertrude SteinBrowse related quotes
Mason CooleyBrowse related quotes