Long time Quote by Osamu Dazai
““I was born in a village in the northeast, and it wasn’t until I was quite big that I saw my first train. I climbed up and down the station bridge, quite unaware that its function was to permit people to cross from one track to another. I was convinced that the bridge had been provided to lend an exotic touch and to make the station premises a place of pleasant diversity, like some foreign playground. I remained under this delusion for quite a long time, and it was for me a very refined amusement indeed to climb up and down the bridge. I thought that it was one of the most elegant services provided by the railways. When later I discovered that the bridge was nothing more than a utilitarian device, I lost all interest in it. Again, when as a child I saw photographs of subway trains in picture books, it never occurred to me that they had been invented out of practical necessity; I could only suppose that riding underground instead of on the surface must be a novel and delightful pastime. I have been sickly ever since I was a child and have frequently been confined to bed. How often as I lay there I used to think what uninspired decorations sheets and pillow cases make. It wasn’t until I was about twenty that I realized that they actually served a practical purpose, and this revelation of human dullness stirred dark depression in me.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: No Longer Human (Ningen Shikkaku) by Osamu Dazai, 1948
The narrator mistook decorative structures for aesthetic wonders, only to later realize their utilitarian purpose, leading to disillusionment and melancholy.
In simple terms: He thought bridges and trains were beautiful, then felt sad when he learned they were practical.
Recognize functional purpose behind appearances to avoid false romanticism.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- childhood curiosity
- urban exploration
- creative writing
- mental health reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What everyday objects might you idealize?
- How can you balance appreciation with practical understanding?
Romanticizing function can mask reality and cause disappointment.