The Tale of Murasaki Quotes

“Fate is unmoved by one's pitiful hopes; what changes, bowing to fate, is what one hopes for.”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki

“The moon is more interesting than the unchanging sun. That is surely why it is used in poetry and the sun is not—unless one talks of dawn or dusk, when the sun briefly hovers on the edge of day.”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki

“I was convinced the answer to life's enigmas must lie in connecting our emotional yearnings to nature.”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki

“I could always tell when I was ready to write again, for I became irritable.”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki

“Започнах да изпитвам чувството, че на моменти сърцата ни се пристрастяват с особена сила към някои природни явления. Пламтящото небе, когато есен слънцето потъва зад оголените клони на дърветата, отеква в сърцата ни със самотния блясък на умираща красота. Затова поетът използва образа на залеза, за да запечата есента в своята поема. Залезът е същината на есента. Всеки сезон си има своите образи, отразяващи същността му, изразена посредством поетична чувствителност.”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki

“In white, everything was vividly stark, like those line drawings in which everyone's black hair seems to literally to grow from the paper.”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki

“This journey was the last time I could freely caress my memories. I imagined a small lacquered box inlaid with silver and gold in a pattern of curling waves, inset with silver cranes. Into this imaginary box I placed all my memories of Ming-gwok and secretly tucked it away in my heart.”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki

“Es la misma tristeza, solo cambia de forma”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki

“A long time ago I heard a story that stars are the remains of a tribe of evil deities banished by the sun goddess.

The blue of the cup makes the green of the tea look more inviting, he explained. A white cup makes the tea look pinkish and muddy.

Autumn was arrogant that year. I had always considered autumn's nature to be darkly yin, compared to spring's clear masculine character, but a bright yang pervaded that fall.

I didn't like a room where everything was brand new and unused.

The problem all along was how to reconcile a woman's need for constancy with a man's desire for novelty.

Contentment is its own reward; unhappiness pushes one to write.

The most interesting part of an intimate relationship is how a person comes to appreciate unnoticed qualities in another.

Nothing awakens old memories like the moon.

Flattery is a fine way to win over a person harboring a grudge.

She felt that another's envy proved one's superiority.

It is well known that at age thirty-six a woman is vulnerable. She is open to evil influences and must take special precautions to preserve her physical and spiritual balance during this year.”
― Liza Dalby, The Tale of Murasaki