The Wisdom Letter #131
5 quotes from Haruki Murakami (1949)
✹ For today's Wisdom Letter, we have carefully curated five bite-sized quotes from the Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami (1949).
Quote № 01:
“I want you always to remember me. Will you remember that I existed, and that I stood next to you here like this?”
— Haruki Murakami, “Norwegian Wood”
Quote № 02:
“The most important thing we ever learn at school is the fact that the most important things can’t be learned at school.”
— Haruki Murakami, “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running”
Quote № 03:
“There's only one kind of happiness, but misfortune comes in all shapes and sizes.”
— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore”
Quote № 04:
“If you remember me, then I don't care if everybody else forgets.”
— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore”
Quote № 05:
“Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart.”
— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore”
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✺ Today’s Questions
Three philosophical questions to foster your curiosity:
Question № 01:
How do we reconcile the idea that some of the most profound lessons in life are learned outside traditional education? What does this suggest about the nature of wisdom and personal growth?
Question № 02:
Is the need to be remembered a reflection of our desire for significance, or is it rooted in a deeper existential fear of disappearing entirely?
Question № 03:
How do memories function as both a source of comfort and a cause of pain? Can we separate the warmth of a memory from the sorrow of its loss?
✽ Thank you for reading today’s Wisdom Letter.
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' ..profound lessons in life are learned outside traditional education'
Yes, as Murakami says, the point of traditional education is to learn how to learn, and when we do it leads to personal growth and wisdom. Medicine and similar skills need formal education, at least initially, to avoid suffering from someone busy learning from their mistakes.
Murakami has some of the most profound quotes amongst modern writers. One of my favourites is, "I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning."
The way he understands pain, memories, and loneliness is really beautiful.