Murasaki Shikibu Quotes

To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.

Out of love, God becomes man. He says: Here you see what it is to be a human being; but he adds: Take care, for I am also God — blessed is he who takes no offense at me.

By the way, what have you done that's so great? Do you create anything, or just criticize others work and belittle their motivations?

I speak what appears to me the general opinion; and where an opinion is general, it is usually correct.

I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.

The wise man who has charge of governing the empire should know the cause of disorder before he can put it in order. Unless he knows its cause, he cannot regulate it.

We must not contradict, but instruct him that contradicts us; for a madman is not cured by another running mad also.

He lived year after year. He attended only to himself and to God and this picture-but he did not understand himself.

Writings such as commentaries and annotations exist to assist people in becoming sages, but in fact they close the doors to sagehood.

She knew what she knew, like a sound dogmatist: she did not know what she did not — like a sound agnostic.

I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.

I mean, what is a woman? I assure you, I do not know. I do not believe that you know. I do not believe that anybody can know until she has expressed herself in all the arts and professions open to human skill.

All the colors of the world should be
Loving each other wholeheartedly,
Yes, it's alright,
Take my message to your brother and tell him twice,
Spread the word and try to teach the man
Who's hating his brother when hate won't do,
When we're all the same,
'Cause the blood inside me is inside of you.

For what is a child? Ignorance. What is a child? Want of instruction. For where a child has knowledge, he is no worse than we are.

I’m just a simple person. I’m not hard to understand.

From your place of darkness observe the defects of others. See but do not appear to see; listen but do not seem to listen; know but do not let it be known that you know. When you perceive the trend of a man's words, do not change them, do not correct them, but examine them and compare them with the results.