Quotes from Haruki Murakami

It is hard to be an individual in Japan.

For me, writing a novel is like having a dream. Writing a novel lets me intentionally dream while I'm still awake. I can continue yesterday's dream today, something you can't normally do in everyday life.

As a novelist, you could say that I am dreaming while I am awake, and every day I can continue with yesterday's dream. Because it is a dream, there are so many contradictions and I have to adjust them to make the story work. But, in principle, the original dream does not change.

I have always liked running, so it wasn't particularly difficult to make it a habit. All you need is a pair of running shoes and you can do it anywhere. It does not require anybody to do it with, and so I found the sport perfectly fits me as a person who tends to be independent and individualistic.

A gentleman is someone who does not what he wants to do, but what he should do.

I don't care what you do to me, but I don't want you to hurt me. I've had enough hurt already in my life. More than enough. Now I want to be happy.

Quizás aun no te comprenda. Pero, con un poco de tiempo, llegaré a entenderte. Y no habrá nadie en el mundo que te comprenda mejor que yo.

Young people these days don't trust anything at all. They want to be free.

Many people, especially young people, would like to be more independent and on their own. But it is very difficult and they suffer from feelings of isolation. I think that is one reason why young readers support my work.

In my younger days, I was trying to write sophisticated prose and fantastic stories.

Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest.

Writers have to keep on writing if they want to mature, like caterpillars endlessly chewing on leaves.

A girl doesn't always want to go out, you know, Mr. Wind-Up Bird. Sometimes she feels like being nasty--like, if the guy's gonna wait, let him really wait.

I can be hurt, you know. I can get as exhausted as anybody else. I can feel so bad I want to cry, too.

Why do I act like this, agreeing when I really disagree, letting people force me to do things I don't want to do?

If you can love someone with your whole heart, even one person, then there's salvation in life. Even if you can't get together with that person.

I might have been afraid that if I really loved someone and needed her, one day she might suddenly disappear without a word, and I'd be left all alone.

He stopped complaining, but now I was annoyed. I went to the roof and drank alone.

But you knoe, she's right. Every single day, each time I see her face, see her, it's utterly precious.

Please think of me like an endangered species and just observe me quietly from far away. If you try to talk to me or touch me casually, I may get intimidated and bite you. So please be careful.

A fortunate author can write maybe twelve novels in his lifetime.

When the fire goes out, you'll start feeling the cold. You'll wake up whether you want to or not.

If you try to use your head to think about things, people don't want to have anything to do with you

The best point of my novels, I think, is their humor. I want to keep many my works humorous.