I've been lonely for so long. And I've been hurt so deeply. If only I could have met you again a long time ago, then I wouldn't have had to take all these detours to get here.' Tengo shook his head. 'I don't think so. This way is just fine. This is exactly the right time. For both of us. [...] We needed that much time.... to understand how lonely we really were.
Haruki MurakamiAge certainly hadn't conferred any smarts on me. Character maybe, but mediocrity is a constant, as one Russian writer put it. Russian writers have a way with aphorisms. They probably spend all winter thinking them up.
Haruki MurakamiEverybody burns out in this world; amateur, pro, it doesn't matter, they all burn out, they all get hurt, the OK guys and the not-OK guys both. That's why everybody takes out a little insurance. I've got some too, here at the bottom of the heap. That way, you manage to survive if you burn out. If you're all by yourself and don't belong anywhere, you go down once, and you're out. Finished.
Haruki MurakamiYou canโt look too far ahead. Do that and youโll lose sight of what youโre doing and stumble. Iโm not saying you should focus solely on the details right in front of you, mind you. Youโve got to look ahead a bit or else youโll bump into something. Youโve got to conform to the proper order and at the same time keep an eye out for whatโs ahead. Thatโs critical, no matter what youโre doing.
Haruki Murakami