Responsibility Quote by Hiromi Kawakami
““I’m not the wisest man in the world,” he said, “but there’s no need to take on responsibility for every stray that comes your way.” All very well, I thought. But sometimes you only know what you should take on and what you should not when you don’t have the choice. But I didn’t say this out loud to Mr Kosuga.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami, 2010
We cannot accept every burden; discernment is needed to protect personal well‑being.
In simple terms: Choose which responsibilities to bear.
Set boundaries to preserve self.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- family obligations
- friendship demands
- volunteer work
- unexpected crises
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When does helping become self‑harm?
- How to politely decline excess demands?
Over‑prioritizing duty can lead to burnout.