Children Quote by Yukio Mishima
““To be strong and true had been the most important task he had set himself since early childhood. Once, as a boy, he had tried to outstare the sun. But before he could tell whether he had really looked at it or not, changes had occurred: the blazing red ball that had been there at first began to whirl, then suddenly dimmed, till it became a cold, bluish-black, flattened disk of iron. He felt he had seen the very essence of the sun… For a while, wherever he looked he saw the sun's pale afterimage: in the undergrowth; in the shade beneath the trees; even, when he gazed up, in every part of the sky. The truth was something too dazzling to be looked at directly. And yet, once it had come into one's field of vision, one saw patches of light in all kinds of places: the afterimages of virtue.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Yukio Mishima, 1956
The pursuit of inner strength and authenticity can overwhelm the senses, leaving only lingering impressions of virtue.
In simple terms: Seeking truth can blind you, but its remnants linger.
Key Takeaway
Embrace inner truth, even if it blinds.
Themes
strength
truth
authenticity
perception
virtue
Mood
contemplative
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- spiritual practice
- artistic creation
- philosophical study
Key Concepts
existentialism
self‑actualization
phenomenology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize the afterimage of virtue in daily life?
- Can truth be pursued without losing balance?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may be too abstract for practical guidance.
