“Yaşam reddetmek demektir. Her şeyi kabul eden, lavabo deliğinden fazlasını yaşıyor olamaz.”

“People with menial jobs conjure up what Nietzsche calls a background world, forcing themselves to believe in an earthly or heavenly paradise. Their mental Eden is as seductive as their job is repugnant.”

“Başlangıçta hiçbir şey yoktu. Bu hiçlik, ne boştu, ne de muğlak: Kendinden başka hiçbir şeyle adlandırılamazdı. Tanrı bunun iyi olduğunu gördü. Dünyada hiçbir şeyi boşuna yaratmazdı. Hiçlik ona uygun olmaktan ziyade onun için iyiydi: Onu dolduruyordu”

“Society conspires against her from early infancy. Her brain is steadily filled with plaster until it sets: ‘If you’re not married by the time you’re twenty-five, you’ll have good reason to be ashamed’; ‘if you laugh, you won’t look dignified’ ; ‘if your face betrays your feelings, you’ll look coarse’; ‘if you mention the existence of a single body hair, you’re repulsive’ ; ‘if a boy kisses you on the cheek in public, you’re a whore’; if you enjoy eating, you’re a pig’; ‘if you take pleasure in sleeping, you’re no better than a cow’; and so on.These precepts would be merely anecdotal if they weren’t taken so much to heart.”

“I don’t understand. She’s always been so friendly toward me.”“Yes, so long as your work consisted of updating calendars and photocopying golf club bylaws.”“But there was no danger of my taking her place!”“She was never afraid of that.”“Then why denounce me? Why would it upset her if I went to work for you?”“Miss Mori struggled for years to get the job she has now. She probably found it unbearable for you to get that sort of promotion after being with the company only ten weeks.”“I can’t believe it. That’s just so … mean.”“All I can say is that she suffered greatly during the first few years she was here.”“So she wants me to suffer the same fate? It’s too pathetic. I must talk to her.”“Do you really think that’s a good idea?”“Of course. How else are we going to work things out if we don’t talk?”“You just talked to Mister Omochi. Does it strike you that things have been worked out?”

“In fond, oamenii nu citesc; daca citesc, nu pricep; daca pricep, uita.”

“Se délecter de la médiocrité d'autrui reste le comble de la médiocrité”