Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Sei Shōnagon

Quote by Sei Shōnagon

“Yet surely, in the world of humans, no one goes out of their way to run down a person who hasn't really made it in the world, or whose reputation is already on the wane. And no one would pause to savour the sight or the sound of some boring bird such as a kite or a crow. So, really, it's precisely because the uguisu is supposed to be such a marvellous bird that one's perversely more aware of its failings.”

Quote by Sei Shōnagon

Work

The pillow book

Written by Sei Shonagon, this book offers a unique glimpse into the court life and societal norms of Heian period Japan through a series of personal anecdotes, reflections, and observations. It covers a wide range of topics, including fashion, literature, nature, and the author's own experiences. more

Author

Sei Shōnagon

Browse famous quotes and profile details for Sei Shōnagon. more

You May Also Like

“Many people often ask me, "Is it better to be single or married?", To which I answer, single if you do not find the right person and married if you do. They also ask, "Is it better to have a business or a job", to which I reply whatever makes you happier and feel fulfilled. They then ask why I have decided to become a writer, to which I reply that it was never a decision, and it was never mine either. It is more correct to say that I learned to accept myself. This doesn't mean I won't change. Any circumstance in life is the result of many decisions and it shouldn't trouble your mind. But quite often, what troubles you is not life itself but the judgement of others. Yet you look at their judgements rather than their lack of capacity to make proper judgements. I never listen to what fools say because they can only say foolishness. People create that which is rooted in their being and if their nature is of immense ignorance, their advice to you will be as useful as a rotten apple falling from a tree with no life. The fact that you shouldn't eat rotten apples should be as obvious as the fact that you shouldn't listen to fools.”

“The judgment that comes with being unordinary is an uncomfortable feeling that many would just rather not encounter. But what if I told you that your uniqueness will open doors that you never knew that you could access?”

“People tend to judge others by their experience with life. People tend to judge others by their experience with love. People tend to judge others by their experience with pain. People tend to judge others by their experience with trust. I often laugh at false judgement. I’m usually laughing because you don’t know that your false judgments just hold a mirror to you. Your doubt lets me know what you’ve never seen and your comparisons lets me know what you’ve been through. I think that judgement comes when a person doesn’t understand the psychology of reasoning behind another person’s actions. A man or woman who has walked in many shoes has the ability to overstand an action, but disagree without judgement because of this overstanding.”