Darkness Quote by Haruki Murakami
““Nakata let his body relax, switched off his mind, allowing things to flow through him. This was natural for him, something he'd done ever since he was a child, without a second thought. Before long the borders of his consciousness fluttered around, just like the butterflies. Beyond these borders lay a dark abyss. Occasionally his consciousness would fly over the border and hover over that dizzying black crevasse. But Nakata wasn't afraid of the darkness or how deep it was. And why should he be? That bottomless world of darkness, that weighty silence and chaos, was an old friend, a part of him already. Nakata understood this well. In that world there was no writing, no days of the week, no scary Governor, no opera, no BMWs. No scissors, no tall hats. On the other hand, there was also no delicious eel, no tasty bean-jam buns. Everything is there, but there are no parts. Since there are no parts, there's no need to replace one thing with another. No need to remove anything, or add anything. You don't have to think about difficult things, just let yourself soak it all in. For Nakata, nothing could be better.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami, 2002
A character finds peace in surrendering to emptiness, viewing the void as a familiar companion rather than something to fear.
In simple terms: Embracing emptiness as a friend.
Accept void, stop over‑thinking.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- meditative practice
- creative flow
- stress relief
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does letting go change perception?
- What comforts you in silence?
Void can also be oppressive if not understood.