---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My eyes in the mirror are cold as a…"
description: "\"“My eyes in the mirror are cold as a lizard's, my expression fixed and unreadable. I can't remember the last time I laughed or even showed a hint of a ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/haruki-murakami-21_haruki-murakami_my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-liza_2031378.jpg"
---

#  My eyes in the mirror are cold as a lizard's, my…

![“My eyes in the mirror are cold as a lizard's, my expression fixed and unreadable. I can't remember the last time I laughed or even showed a hint of a smile to other people. Even to myself. I'm not trying to imply I can keep up this silent, isolated facade all the time. Sometimes the wall I've…” quote by Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/haruki-murakami-21_haruki-murakami_my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-liza_2031378.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/haruki-murakami-21_haruki-murakami_my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-liza_2031378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/haruki-murakami-21_haruki-murakami_my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-liza_2031378.jpg)

> ““My eyes in the mirror are cold as a lizard's, my expression fixed and unreadable. I can't remember the last time I laughed or even showed a hint of a smile to other people. Even to myself. I'm not trying to imply I can keep up this silent, isolated facade all the time. Sometimes the wall I've erected around me comes crumbling down. It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes, before I even realize what's going on, there I am-- naked and defenseless and totally confused. At times like that I always feel an omen calling out to me, like a dark, omnipresent pool of water.””

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

## About This Quote

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

Describes a cold, isolated self that occasionally collapses, revealing vulnerability and existential dread.

**In simple terms:** Isolation breaks, exposing fear and confusion.

Key Takeaway

Allow vulnerability to surface, confront inner darkness.

Themes

isolation vulnerability identity existential selfreflection

Mood

melancholic introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- therapy
- creative writing
- self‑analysis
- emotional crisis

Key Concepts

psychology loneliness inner conflict omen symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

- When do you feel your defenses failing?
- What does the “omen” represent for you?

A Different Perspective

The metaphor may over‑dramatize normal sadness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Haruki-murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haruki-murakami/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“I’m not trying to imply I can keep up this silent, isolated facade all the time. Sometimes the wall I’ve erected around me comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-m-not-trying-to-imply-i-can-keep-up-this-silent-isolated-facade-all/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Intelligent teenage girls were often instinctively theatrical, purposely eccentric, mouthing highly suggestive words to confuse people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/intelligent-teenage-girls-were-often-instinctively-theatrical/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“For a certain kind of person, love begins from something tiny or silly. From something like that or it doesn't begin at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/for-a-certain-kind-of-person-love-begins-from-something-tiny-or-silly/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [Look at the rain long enough, with no thoughts in your head, and you gradually feel your body falling loose, shaking free of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/look-at-the-rain-long-enough-with-no-thoughts-in-your-head-and-you/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“I think of human existence as being like a two-story house. On the rst oor people gather together to take their meals, watch television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-think-of-human-existence-as-being-like-a-two-story-house-on-the-rst/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“今日、短い午睡から目覚めたとき、《顔のない男》が私の前にいた。 Hoy, al despertar de la pequeña siesta vespertina, el "hombre sin rostro" se encontraba enfrente de mi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/hoy-al-despertar-de-la-peque-a-siesta-vespertina-el-hombre-sin-rostro/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Despite your best effort, people are going to hurt when it's time for them to be hurt. Life is like that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/despite-your-best-effort-people-are-going-to-hurt-when-it-s-time-for/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Here," he said, "get yourself some healthy food. You look awful." I said he had done more than enough for me and that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/here-he-said-get-yourself-some-healthy-food-you-look-awful-i-said-he/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“I think of human existence as being like a two-story house. On the first floor people gather together to take their meals, watch television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-think-of-human-existence-as-being-like-a-two-story-house-on-the/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Pa, kakvo to iskustvo može da ima pisac bez strasti? To ti je kao kuvar bez apetita.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/pa-kakvo-to-iskustvo-mo-e-da-ima-pisac-bez-strasti-to-ti-je-kao-kuvar/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“I was living for one thing only, and that was to confirm my own lack of feeling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-was-living-for-one-thing-only-and-that-was-to-confirm-my-own-lack/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“I wrote letters in the classroom, I wrote letters at my desk at home with Seagull in my lap, I wrote letters at empty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-wrote-letters-in-the-classroom-i-wrote-letters-at-my-desk-at-home/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Ništa se neće promijeniti ako žmirite. Ništa neće nestati samo zato što vi ne vidite šta se zbiva. Zapravo, bit će još gore kada…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/ni-ta-se-ne-e-promijeniti-ako-mirite-ni-ta-ne-e-nestati-samo-zato-to/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“What the hell kind of revolution have you got just tossing out big words that working-class people can't understand? What the hell kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/what-the-hell-kind-of-revolution-have-you-got-just-tossing-out-big-2/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

## More by Haruki Murakami

> [I always feel like I'm struggling to become someone else. Like I'm trying to find a new place, grab hold of a new life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-always-feel-like-i-m-struggling-to-become-someone-else-like-i-m/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [If writing novels is like planting a forest, then writing short stories is more like planting a garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-writing-novels-is-like-planting-a-forest-then-writing-short/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“The sad truth is that what I could recall in five seconds all too soon needed ten, then thirty, thena full minute...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-sad-truth-is-that-what-i-could-recall-in-five-seconds-all-too/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Intelligent teenage girls were often instinctively theatrical, purposely eccentric, mouthing highly suggestive words to confuse people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/intelligent-teenage-girls-were-often-instinctively-theatrical/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [Memory is like fiction; or else it's fiction that's like memory. This really came home to me once I started writing fiction, that memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/memory-is-like-fiction-or-else-it-s-fiction-that-s-like-memory-this/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [The most dangerous creature here would have to be me. So maybe I'm just scared of my own shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-most-dangerous-creature-here-would-have-to-be-me-so-maybe-i-m/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [If you listen to the radio for a whole hour there's maybe one decent song. The rest is mass-produced garbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-you-listen-to-the-radio-for-a-whole-hour-there-s-maybe-one-decent/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“that one of our problems was our inability to recognize and accept our own deformities”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/that-one-of-our-problems-was-our-inability-to-recognize-and-accept/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“There's not a branch of publishing or broadcasting that doesn't depend in some way on advertising. It'd be like an aquarium without water. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-not-a-branch-of-publishing-or-broadcasting-that-doesn-t/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“One by one, I'll face the tasks before me and complete them as best I can. Focusing on each stride forward, but at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/one-by-one-i-ll-face-the-tasks-before-me-and-complete-them-as-best-i/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Eleven o'clock had come and gone. I had to find a way to bring this conversation to a successful conclusion and get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/eleven-o-clock-had-come-and-gone-i-had-to-find-a-way-to-bring-this/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Some people get a kick out of reading railway timetables and that's all they do all day. Some people make huge model boats out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/some-people-get-a-kick-out-of-reading-railway-timetables-and-that-s/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“When the time comes, everybody’s got to end up where they belong. Only me, I didn’t have a place to call my own. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-the-time-comes-everybody-s-got-to-end-up-where-they-belong-only/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“You let something out of the bag before yourself knew what it was all about”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/you-let-something-out-of-the-bag-before-yourself-knew-what-it-was-all/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

[Explore all 2,928 Haruki Murakami quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

## More Haruki-murakami quotes

> [“Intelligent teenage girls were often instinctively theatrical, purposely eccentric, mouthing highly suggestive words to confuse people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/intelligent-teenage-girls-were-often-instinctively-theatrical/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Ništa se neće promijeniti ako žmirite. Ništa neće nestati samo zato što vi ne vidite šta se zbiva. Zapravo, bit će još gore kada…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/ni-ta-se-ne-e-promijeniti-ako-mirite-ni-ta-ne-e-nestati-samo-zato-to/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“I wrote letters in the classroom, I wrote letters at my desk at home with Seagull in my lap, I wrote letters at empty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-wrote-letters-in-the-classroom-i-wrote-letters-at-my-desk-at-home/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“I was living for one thing only, and that was to confirm my own lack of feeling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-was-living-for-one-thing-only-and-that-was-to-confirm-my-own-lack/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Pa, kakvo to iskustvo može da ima pisac bez strasti? To ti je kao kuvar bez apetita.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/pa-kakvo-to-iskustvo-mo-e-da-ima-pisac-bez-strasti-to-ti-je-kao-kuvar/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“I think of human existence as being like a two-story house. On the first floor people gather together to take their meals, watch television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-think-of-human-existence-as-being-like-a-two-story-house-on-the/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Here," he said, "get yourself some healthy food. You look awful." I said he had done more than enough for me and that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/here-he-said-get-yourself-some-healthy-food-you-look-awful-i-said-he/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Closing your eyes isn’t going to change anything. Nothing’s going to disappear just because you can’t see what’s going on…. Keep your eyes wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/closing-your-eyes-isn-t-going-to-change-anything-nothing-s-going-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Despite your best effort, people are going to hurt when it's time for them to be hurt. Life is like that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/despite-your-best-effort-people-are-going-to-hurt-when-it-s-time-for/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“今日、短い午睡から目覚めたとき、《顔のない男》が私の前にいた。 Hoy, al despertar de la pequeña siesta vespertina, el "hombre sin rostro" se encontraba enfrente de mi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/hoy-al-despertar-de-la-peque-a-siesta-vespertina-el-hombre-sin-rostro/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“I think of human existence as being like a two-story house. On the rst oor people gather together to take their meals, watch television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-think-of-human-existence-as-being-like-a-two-story-house-on-the-rst/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [Look at the rain long enough, with no thoughts in your head, and you gradually feel your body falling loose, shaking free of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/look-at-the-rain-long-enough-with-no-thoughts-in-your-head-and-you/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“For a certain kind of person, love begins from something tiny or silly. From something like that or it doesn't begin at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/for-a-certain-kind-of-person-love-begins-from-something-tiny-or-silly/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“What the hell kind of revolution have you got just tossing out big words that working-class people can't understand? What the hell kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/what-the-hell-kind-of-revolution-have-you-got-just-tossing-out-big-2/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

[Browse all 57 Haruki-murakami quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haruki-murakami/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“My eyes in the mirror are cold as a lizard's, my expression fixed and unreadable. I can't remember the last time I laughed or even showed a hint of a smile to other people. Even to myself. I'm not trying to imply I can keep up this silent, isolated facade all the time. Sometimes the wall I've erected around me comes crumbling down. It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes, before I even realize what's going on, there I am-- naked and defenseless and totally confused. At times like that I always feel an omen calling out to me, like a dark, omnipresent pool of water.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Haruki Murakami"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-lizard-s-my-expression-fixed-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Haruki-murakami"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-lizard-s-my-expression-fixed-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/haruki-murakami-21_haruki-murakami_my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-liza_2031378.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/haruki-murakami-21_haruki-murakami_my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-liza_2031378.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/haruki-murakami-21_haruki-murakami_my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-liza_2031378.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My eyes in the mirror are cold as a lizard's, my expression fixed and unreadable. I can't remember the last…” — Haruki Murakami",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Haruki Murakami",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“My eyes in the mirror are...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-lizard-s-my-expression-fixed-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/my-eyes-in-the-mirror-are-cold-as-a-lizard-s-my-expression-fixed-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
