“When great happiness unexpectedly swoops down on people, they suddenly turn into cowards.”

“Mickey had turned into Daisy, and Goofy had turned into Einstein—we were talking about a transmutation that would even have had Paracelsus foaming at the mouth.”

“Snatching happiness takes a lot more courage than enduring unhappiness.”

“Forbearance is a maiden's worst enemy. If you're happy, that's all that counts.”

“When you find something precious, you have to hold on to it with all your might and never let it go, whatever else you may lose. After all, there are lots of people who die without ever finding something that's really precious to them.”

“How many people could embrace such disturbing imagery?”

“People born in Amagasaki grow up, get married, have children, and die wearing tracksuits.”