Haruki Murakami, the Japanese novelist, translator, and musician, is renowned for his distinctive style that blends surrealism, existentialism, and elements of pop culture. His works often explore themes of loneliness, memory, love, and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world. Murakami’s ability to craft intricate, dreamlike narratives has earned him a dedicated global following. Below is a collection of 25 of his best quotes, offering a glimpse into the philosophical depth and poetic beauty of his writing. Each quote is followed by an exploration of its significance and how it reflects the essence of Murakami’s worldview.
1. “If you remember me, then I don’t care if everyone else forgets.”
This quote from Norwegian Wood encapsulates Murakami’s deep understanding of love and memory. The idea that the memory of one person can hold more value than the recognition of the whole world speaks to the power of personal connections. Murakami often explores the notion that relationships, whether fleeting or enduring, shape the meaning of our lives. In this quote, the protagonist expresses the significance of being remembered by a loved one, suggesting that human bonds hold more weight than the validation of the broader, often indifferent world.
2. “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”
This quote, often attributed to Murakami, though not directly from one of his novels, reflects the author’s recurring theme of suffering as a natural part of life. In Murakami’s works, characters often face inner turmoil, loss, and alienation. Yet, the key idea here is that while pain is a given, suffering comes from how we choose to respond to it. By accepting pain without letting it consume us, we can find a way to navigate through life’s hardships.
3. “You can hide memories, but you can’t erase the history that produced them.”
Memory plays a crucial role in Murakami’s works, and this quote touches on the inevitability of facing our past. In novels like Kafka on the Shore and 1Q84, characters often struggle to reconcile with their memories, which are not easily erased or forgotten. Murakami suggests that, while one can suppress or bury painful memories, the history and experiences that shaped them will continue to linger, influencing the present.
4. “The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can’t be learned at school.”
In Norwegian Wood, Murakami reflects on the limits of formal education in teaching us life’s essential lessons. Knowledge gained through experience, relationships, and personal growth is what truly shapes our understanding of the world. Formal schooling may teach us facts and skills, but it cannot equip us with the wisdom needed to navigate life’s complexities, particularly those related to love, loss, and self-discovery.
5. “I am a writer, but I don’t know how to write. I can only write the way I do. That’s all.”
Murakami’s humility in this quote highlights his belief that writing is a deeply personal and intuitive process. As a self-taught writer, Murakami embraces his unique style, acknowledging that he writes not according to any set rules or expectations, but in a way that feels natural to him. This reflects his broader philosophy that creativity and authenticity are paramount, and that there is no single correct way to create art.
6. “I don’t believe in the concept of ‘one true love.’ I think people change. There are many loves. I’m not one of those people who believes in soulmates.”
In Norwegian Wood, Murakami challenges the romantic ideal of a single, fated love. His works often explore complex relationships, where love is not a simple or eternal force, but something that evolves and fluctuates over time. Murakami’s perspective suggests that love is not about finding a singular soulmate, but about navigating the various connections that life presents, each of which holds its own significance.
7. “Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing direction. You change direction but the sandstorm chases you. You turn, but the storm adjusts. Over and over. You think you’re rid of it, but it never comes.”
This metaphor from Kafka on the Shore captures the feeling of being trapped in an inescapable cycle of fate. Murakami’s characters often find themselves caught in situations that seem predestined, like victims of a storm they cannot control. The sandstorm represents the relentless nature of life’s challenges and the sense that we can never fully escape the consequences of our choices, no matter how much we try.
8. “What happens when people open their hearts? They get better.”
In Norwegian Wood, Murakami reflects on the healing power of vulnerability. Opening oneself to others, whether in friendship, love, or compassion, can lead to emotional growth and recovery. Murakami’s characters often struggle with isolation and emotional numbness, but through deep human connections, they find a path toward healing. This quote emphasizes the transformative potential of love and human connection.
9. “There is no such thing as perfect writing, just like there is no such thing as perfect despair.”
Murakami’s view on writing and despair is shaped by his existential outlook. He believes that perfection is an illusion, whether in art or in life’s darker moments. Imperfection, in both writing and human experience, is what makes them genuine and relatable. For Murakami, both writing and despair are processes—ever-evolving, incomplete, and uniquely personal.
10. “Time flows in strange ways on Sundays, and on other holidays, too.”
In A Wild Sheep Chase, Murakami reflects on the strange perception of time, particularly during periods of rest or detachment. The concept of time, especially when we are disconnected from routine or purpose, becomes fluid and almost surreal. Murakami’s exploration of time often blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, making ordinary moments feel charged with significance.
11. “I dream. Sometimes I think that’s the only right thing to do.”
In Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, Murakami delves into the idea of dreams as an alternative reality—one that offers refuge, meaning, and exploration. Dreaming is, for Murakami’s characters, a means of confronting the unknown and finding understanding beyond the limitations of the waking world. This quote speaks to the importance of imagination and the search for deeper truths in the realm of dreams.
12. “I don’t know where I’m going, but I know that I’m going.”
Murakami’s protagonists often embody a sense of existential uncertainty, unsure of their ultimate destination but committed to the journey nonetheless. This quote reflects the idea that life is not about knowing where we are headed, but about the act of moving forward with conviction. It is an exploration of faith—faith in the process, faith in the journey, even when the end is unclear.
13. “It’s not the world that’s messed up; it’s the people in it.”
This quote encapsulates Murakami’s critique of human nature, which often appears flawed and contradictory. In his works, characters frequently face alienation, moral ambiguity, and the chaos of their inner lives. While the external world may seem indifferent or broken, Murakami suggests that it is our own human shortcomings—our inability to connect or understand one another—that leads to much of the suffering we experience.
14. “When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what the storm is all about.”
In Kafka on the Shore, this metaphor speaks to the transformative power of hardship. Murakami often uses storms, both literal and figurative, as symbols of personal trials. The storm represents a trial by fire, a challenge that changes you, often in ways you cannot predict. For Murakami, transformation is a central theme: the storms of life force us to grow, adapt, and emerge different from who we were before.
15. “If you can’t understand it without an explanation, you can’t understand it with an explanation.”
This quote reflects Murakami’s belief in the limits of rationality and language in comprehending the complexities of life. In many of his novels, characters grapple with abstract or inexplicable experiences that cannot be fully explained or understood through logic. For Murakami, some truths transcend explanation—they can only be grasped intuitively, through lived experience.
16. “I believe that you can change your life if you want to. But you have to take a step, or you can’t change anything.”
Murakami often explores the theme of personal transformation, emphasizing that change is a conscious decision, not something that happens by accident. This quote from Norwegian Wood highlights the importance of agency and the willingness to take action. Transformation, according to Murakami, requires a willingness to move forward, even if the path ahead is uncertain or daunting.
17. “The world is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.”
Murakami’s fascination with the surreal is evident in this quote. He often blends the ordinary with the extraordinary, crafting narratives where the strange and the inexplicable emerge unexpectedly. Murakami suggests that our perceptions of reality are limited, and that the true nature of the world exceeds our understanding. This quote reflects the infinite possibilities of existence that lie beyond what we can see or comprehend.
18. “What happens in the past, that’s the thing you can’t change. It’s there, and it’s gone.”
Murakami’s characters frequently confront their pasts, and this quote underscores his philosophy that the past cannot be altered, only accepted. In Norwegian Wood, 1Q84, and other works, Murakami examines the impact of memories and past experiences on the present. The past, while unchangeable, continues to shape who we are and how we relate to the world. However, Murakami also suggests that there is a certain peace in accepting the past as it is, rather than dwelling on regrets or trying to undo it. In this sense, the past serves as a foundational part of our identity, but it should not dominate or imprison us.
19. “The only thing you can do is look at things and wonder.”
In many of Murakami’s novels, his characters are often observers, sometimes passive, sometimes deeply introspective, looking at the world around them with a sense of wonder. This quote suggests that curiosity and reflection are central to understanding the world and oneself. Murakami often places his characters in situations that challenge their perceptions, encouraging both them and the reader to wonder about the mysteries of life, existence, and human nature.
20. “No matter how much it hurts now, someday you will look back and realize your struggles changed your life for the better.”
Murakami’s stories often feature characters who must confront painful experiences, be it emotional turmoil, loss, or personal crisis. This quote reflects the idea that suffering, while difficult in the moment, can lead to growth and understanding. Murakami’s characters often emerge from their struggles with a greater sense of self-awareness or a changed perspective on life. Pain, in this sense, becomes a catalyst for transformation, and even though it may be hard to see the positive side in the midst of it, the future offers the possibility of understanding and growth.
21. “In the end, I believe that we can change the world by changing ourselves.”
This quote highlights Murakami’s belief in the power of personal transformation. In many of his works, characters are faced with the opportunity to change their lives and, by extension, influence the world around them. Murakami’s emphasis on self-transformation is a recurring theme in his novels, illustrating that the world we inhabit is inextricably tied to the internal worlds we create for ourselves. Change is not just about external circumstances, but about how we evolve and adapt to the challenges we face.
22. “I don’t need to be understood. I only need to be loved.”
This quote speaks to Murakami’s recurring theme of loneliness and the human need for connection. In many of his works, characters find themselves isolated or misunderstood, yet still long for love and acceptance. This quote suggests that understanding is not always necessary for connection—sometimes, love and empathy are more important. It speaks to the universality of the human need for affection, even in its most imperfect forms.
23. “The most important thing is to look for things in the present moment. The past is a shadow, the future is a guess. We only have the present.”
This quote reflects Murakami’s existential outlook on life. He often emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and the importance of living in the present. In Norwegian Wood and other works, the characters grapple with memories and anxieties about the future, but Murakami suggests that the present is where we truly live. By focusing on the here and now, we can find meaning and clarity, even amid uncertainty and chaos.
24. “If you remember me, then I don’t care if everyone else forgets.”
This quote again from Norwegian Wood touches on the importance of personal connections and the depth of love. For Murakami, it’s not about broad recognition or fame, but about the intimate, personal bonds we form with others. In a world where people often feel lost or overlooked, the idea of being remembered by just one person—someone who truly cares—is a powerful and meaningful affirmation of our existence.
25. “The thing I’m most afraid of is getting used to things.”
This quote speaks to Murakami’s fear of complacency and the erosion of wonder in everyday life. Throughout his works, characters often find themselves in situations that challenge their sense of routine and comfort, and the idea of getting “used to things” represents a loss of sensitivity to the world’s mysteries and beauty. For Murakami, life should be filled with moments of surprise, novelty, and a constant sense of questioning. To become too comfortable, to stop questioning and exploring, is, in his view, one of life’s greatest dangers.
Conclusion
Haruki Murakami’s works have touched readers worldwide with their blend of surrealism, introspection, and philosophical musings on the human condition. Through his unique narrative style, Murakami invites us to explore the depths of our emotions, the complexities of our relationships, and the mysteries of existence. The 25 quotes presented here capture key elements of his worldview, from the power of memory and love to the inevitability of change and the importance of personal transformation. Murakami’s stories, filled with dreamlike sequences and poignant reflections, encourage readers to embrace life’s uncertainties and seek meaning in both the extraordinary and the ordinary. His ability to write about the strange, the fantastical, and the profoundly human has made him one of the most beloved and influential authors of contemporary literature. Whether through the lens of love, loss, or self-discovery, Murakami’s works continue to inspire and resonate deeply with readers around the world.