“In life there are two things which are dependable. The pleasures of the flesh and the pleasures of literature.””
The Pillow Book
Quotes by Sei Shōnagon
“Pleasing things: finding a large number of tales that one has not read before. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed. But often it is a disappointment.””
The Pillow Book
“To wash your hair, apply your makeup and put on clothes that are well-scented with incense. Even if you’re somewhere where no one special will see you, you still feel a heady sense of pleasure inside.””
The Pillow Book
“185. It Is Getting So Dark I am the sort of person who approves of what others abhor and detests the things they like.””
The Pillow Book
“71. -- A son-in-law who's praised by his wife's father. Likewise, a wife who's loved by her mother-in-law. A pair of silver tweezers that can actually pull out hairs properly.A retainer who doesn't speak ill of his master.A person who is without a single quirk. Someone who's superior in both appearance and character, and who's remained utterly blameless throughout his long dealings with the world.You never find an instance of two people living together who continue to be overawed by each other's excellence and always treat each other with scrupulous care and respect, so such a relationship is obviously a great rarity. Copying out a tale or a volume of poems without smearing any ink on the book you're copying from. If you're copying it from some beautiful bound book, you try to take immense care, but somehow you always manage to get ink on it.Two women, let alone a man and a woman, who vow themselves to each other forever, and actually manage to remain on good terms to the end.””
The Pillow Book
Sei ShōnagonSei Shōnagon was a prominent Japanese author and court lady during the Heian period, known for her sharp wit and keen observations of court life. She served as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Teishi and ...