Maryam

“What did he mean by "society"? The plural of human beings?”
― Osamu Dazai, No Longer Human

“Mother, recently I have discovered the one way in which human beings differ completely from other animals. Man has, I know, language, knowledge, principles, and social order, but don't all the other animals have them too, granted the difference of degree? Perhaps the animals even have religions. Man boasts of being the lord of all creation, but it would seem as if essentially he does not differ in the least from other animals. But, Mother, there was one way I thought of. Perhaps you won't understand. It's a faculty absolutely unique to man - having secrets. Can you see what I mean?”
― Osamu Dazai, The Setting Sun

“[...] I was afraid to board a streetcar because of the conductor; I was afraid to enter the Kabuki Theater for fear of the usherettes standing along the sides of the red-carpeted staircase at the main entrance; I was afraid to go into a restaurant because I was intimidated by the waiters furtively hovering behind me waiting for my plate to be emptied.”
― Osamu Dazai, No Longer Human

“I must go on living. And, though it
may be childish of me, I can't go on in
simple compliance. From now on I must
struggle with the world. I thought that
Mother might well be the last of those
who can end their lives beautifully and
sadly, struggling with no one, neither
hating nor betraying anyone. In the
world to come there will be no room for
such people. The dying are beautiful,
but to live, to survive – those things
somehow seem hideous and
contaminated with blood.”
― Osamu Dazai, The Setting Sun