Skip to content

It was certainly not consolation that Kashiwagi sought in…

“It was certainly not consolation that Kashiwagi sought in beauty. .. What he loved was that for a short while after his breath had brought beauty into existence in the air, his own clubfeet and gloomy thinking remained there, more clearly and more vividly than before. The uselessness of beauty…” quote by Yukio Mishima
Download Open image
““It was certainly not consolation that Kashiwagi sought in beauty. .. What he loved was that for a short while after his breath had brought beauty into existence in the air, his own clubfeet and gloomy thinking remained there, more clearly and more vividly than before. The uselessness of beauty, the fact that beauty which had passed through his body left no mark there whatsoever, that it changed absolutely nothing- it was this that Kashiwagi loved.””

Yukio Mishima

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Kashiwagi valued the fleeting, intangible nature of beauty, finding meaning in its impermanence and the lingering impression it leaves on his mind.

In simple terms: He loved beauty’s temporary impact and the lasting mental trace it creates.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate fleeting moments and their lasting mental imprint.

Themes

beauty impermanence reflection existentialism

Mood

melancholic contemplative

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • art criticism
  • personal introspection
  • creative writing
  • philosophical debate

Key Concepts

aestheticism nihilism subjective experience

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does fleeting beauty shape your identity?
  • Can impermanence be a source of strength?
A Different Perspective

The quote may romanticize suffering and overlook the value of lasting achievements.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Yukio Mishima

Explore all 206 Yukio Mishima quotes

More Beauty quotes

Browse all 24,662 Beauty quotes