Austin Zhao

“What shall I compare
Your precious letter in early spring to?
All the jewels and gold
Lose their color.
雨が下に
満つる玉より
黄金より
春の初めの
君が音づれ”
― Ryōkan, Zen Fool Ryokan

“If you marry, you will regret it; if you do not marry, you will also regret it; if you marry or do not marry, you will regret both; Laugh at the world’s follies, you will regret it, weep over them, you will also regret that; laugh at the world’s follies or weep over them, you will regret both; whether you laugh at the world’s follies or weep over them, you will regret both. Believe a woman, you will regret it, believe her not, you will also regret that; believe a woman or believe her not, you will regret both; whether you believe a woman or believe her not, you will regret both. Hang yourself, you will regret it; do not hang yourself, and you will also regret that; hang yourself or do not hang yourself, you will regret both; whether you hang yourself or do not hang yourself, you will regret both. This, gentlemen, is the sum and substance of all philosophy.”
― Søren Kierkegaard, Either/Or: A Fragment of Life

“I'm not going to believe in any damned revolution. Love is all I'm going to believe in.”
― Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

“Has it returned,
the snow
we viewed together?
二人見し
雪は今年も
降りけるか”
― Matsuo Bashō, On Love and Barley: Haiku of Basho