Over the ages, the dominant characteristic of much Japanese poetry has been its gentle melancholy, its sense of mono no aware (which a Roman poet, without knowing Japanese, called lacrimae rerum). The great sadness at the heart of things,
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“To express the love of two lovers by the marriage of two complementary colours, their blending and their contrast, the mysterious vibrations of related tones. To express the thought of a brow by the radiance of a light tone against a dark background. To express hope by some star. Someone's passion by the radiance of the setting sun. That's certainly no realistic trompe l'oeil, but something that really exists, isn't it?”
― The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
― The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
“If you know someone who’s depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn’t a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather.
Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness, and loneliness they’re going through. Be there for them when they come through the other side. It’s hard to be a friend to someone who’s depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest, and best things you will ever do.”
―
Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness, and loneliness they’re going through. Be there for them when they come through the other side. It’s hard to be a friend to someone who’s depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest, and best things you will ever do.”
―
“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.”
― The Song of Achilles
― The Song of Achilles
“To me, the you in your greatest glory is you, the you that has fallen from grace is also you, the most important thing is you, not what kind of you.”
― 天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú]
― 天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú]
Maria’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Maria’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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