Long time Quote by Ruth Ozeki
““... there's the fact of her being a hundred and four years old. I keep saying that's her age, but actually I'm just guessing. We don't really know for sure how old she is, and she claims she doesn't remember, either. When you ask her, she says, "Zuibun nagaku ikasarete itadaite orimasu ne." … (footnote) Zuibun nagaku ikasarete itadaite orimasu ne -- "I have been alive for a very long time, haven't I?" Totally impossible to translate, but the nuance is something like: "I have been caused to live by the deep conditions of the universe to which I am humbly and deeply grateful. P. Arai calls it the "gratitude tense," and says the beauty of this grammatical construction is that "there is no finger pointed to a source." She also says, "It is impossible to feel angry when using this tense.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, 2013
The speaker expresses a profound, humble gratitude for existence, attributing life to vast, impersonal forces, which removes personal blame or anger.
In simple terms: Deep gratitude for life beyond personal control.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and appreciate the larger forces shaping your life.
Themes
gratitude
humility
existence
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
cultural
When to use this quote
- reflecting on aging
- cultural translation
- spiritual practice
- writing about memory
- philosophical discourse
Key Concepts
gratefulness
determinism
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing life as caused by impersonal forces affect personal responsibility?
- Can gratitude replace anger in challenging situations?
A Different Perspective
The concept may feel abstract and hard to apply in everyday concrete decisions.
