Acceptance Quote by Yukio Mishima
““Count Ayakura’s abstraction persisted. He believed that only a vulgar mentality was willing to acknowledge the possibility of catastrophe. He felt that taking naps was much more beneficial than confronting catastrophes. However precipitous the future might seem, he learned from the game of kemari that the ball must always come down. There was no call for consternation. Grief and rage, along with other outbursts of passion, were mistakes easily committed by a mind lacking in refinement. And the Count was certainly not a man who lacked refinement. Just let matters slide. How much better to accept each sweet drop of the honey that was Time, than to stoop to the vulgarity latent in every decision. However grave the matter at hand might be, if one neglected it for long enough, the act of neglect itself would begin to affect the situation, and someone else would emerge as an ally. Such was Count Ayakura’s version of political theory.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Sea of Fertility, Book 1: Spring Snow, 1969
Count Ayakura advises calm acceptance and refined perspective over panic, suggesting that neglect leads to greater problems and that refined composure is political wisdom.
In simple terms: Stay calm and refined, avoid panic and neglect.
Embrace composure, act deliberately.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- political decision making
- stress management
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does refined composure affect political outcomes?
- When is decisive action preferable to calm acceptance?
Neglect can amplify issues, and calm may be misread as complacency.