Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

99 Haruki Murakami Quotes That Will Inspire You To Get Moving

Famous As: Writer
Born On: January 12, 1949
Born In: Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Age: 74 Years

Haruki Murakami is a contemporary Japanese author and translator whose works invoke classical music. The critics describe his writing style as ‘an easily accessible, yet profoundly complex’. Murakami is inspired by Western culture, music and literature. Since he grew up reading American writers, his works are very different from the conventional Japanese authors. He was a drama student at Tokyo’s Waseda University. After completing his education, he joined a record studio, where he got inspired to write Toru Wantabe’s character in Norwegian Wood. This is how he began his literary career. Meanwhile, he ran a coffeehouse cum evening jazz bar named ‘Peter Cat’ in Kokubunji. Since then, he has published several fiction and non-fiction books like A Wild Sheep Chase (1982), Kafka on the Shore (2002), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994-95), 1Q84 (2009-2010). He also translated the famous works of Salinger, Carver and other English authors to Japanese. Some of Murakami’s bestselling works sold millions of copies worldwide and were translated into 50 different languages. He achieved critical appreciation and numerous awards like World Fantasy Award (2006), Franz Kafka Prize (2006), Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award (2006) and Jerusalem Prize (2009). His musical works are not just surrealistic but melancholic and inspiring for young authors. The Guardian named him as the greatest living novelists of postmodern literature. We have curated a collection of best quotes from Murakami’s brilliant career by combing through all of his novels and writings to get his best thoughts and quotes. Here are some of his most inspiring quotes on life, loss, and everything in between.

Listed In:
If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.

If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.

Haruki Murakami
Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart.

Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart.

Haruki Murakami
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

Haruki Murakami
Whatever it is you're seeking won't come in the form you're expecting.

Whatever it is you're seeking won't come in the form you're expecting.

Haruki Murakami
What happens when people open their hearts?

What happens when people open their hearts?" "They get better.

Haruki Murakami
If you remember me, then I don't care if everyone else forgets.

If you remember me, then I don't care if everyone else forgets.

Haruki Murakami
Nobody likes being alone that much. I don't go out of my way to make friends, that's all. It just leads to disappointment.

Nobody likes being alone that much. I don't go out of my way to make friends, that's all. It just leads to disappointment.

Haruki Murakami
I dream. Sometimes I think that's the only right thing to do.

I dream. Sometimes I think that's the only right thing to do.

Haruki Murakami
Don't feel sorry for yourself. Only assholes do that.

Don't feel sorry for yourself. Only assholes do that.

Haruki Murakami
No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories.

No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories.

Haruki Murakami
It's like Tolstoy said. Happiness is an allegory, unhappiness a story.

It's like Tolstoy said. Happiness is an allegory, unhappiness a story.

Haruki Murakami
But I didn't understand then. That I could hurt somebody so badly she would never recover. That a person can, just by living, damage another human being beyond repair.

But I didn't understand then. That I could hurt somebody so badly she would never recover. That a person can, just by living, damage another human being beyond repair.

Haruki Murakami
I want you always to remember me. Will you remember that I existed, and that I stood next to you here like this?

I want you always to remember me. Will you remember that I existed, and that I stood next to you here like this?

Haruki Murakami
I was always hungry for love. Just once, I wanted to know what it was like to get my fill of it -- to be fed so much love I couldn't take any more. Just once.

I was always hungry for love. Just once, I wanted to know what it was like to get my fill of it -- to be fed so much love I couldn't take any more. Just once.

Haruki Murakami
Listen up - there's no war that will end all wars.

Listen up - there's no war that will end all wars.

Haruki Murakami
Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.

Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.

Haruki Murakami
Silence, I discover, is something you can actually hear.

Silence, I discover, is something you can actually hear.

Haruki Murakami
Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.

Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.

Haruki Murakami
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.

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.

Haruki Murakami
Despite your best efforts, people are going to be hurt when it's time for them to be hurt.

Despite your best efforts, people are going to be hurt when it's time for them to be hurt.

Haruki Murakami
Taking crazy things seriously is a serious waste of time.

Taking crazy things seriously is a serious waste of time.

Haruki Murakami
Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive.

Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive.

Haruki Murakami
Don't you think it would be wonderful to get rid of everything and everybody and just go some place where you don't know a soul?

Don't you think it would be wonderful to get rid of everything and everybody and just go some place where you don't know a soul?

Haruki Murakami
In this world, there are things you can only do alone, and things you can only do with somebody else. It's important to combine the two in just the right amount.

In this world, there are things you can only do alone, and things you can only do with somebody else. It's important to combine the two in just the right amount.

Haruki Murakami
The answer is dreams. Dreaming on and on. Entering the world of dreams and never coming out. Living in dreams for the rest of time.

The answer is dreams. Dreaming on and on. Entering the world of dreams and never coming out. Living in dreams for the rest of time.

Haruki Murakami
Letters are just pieces of paper,

Letters are just pieces of paper," I said. "Burn them, and what stays in your heart will stay; keep them, and what vanishes will vanish.

Haruki Murakami
For a while

For a while" is a phrase whose length can't be measured.At least by the person who's waiting.

Haruki Murakami
I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning.

I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning.

Haruki Murakami
No matter what they wish for, no matter how far they go, people can never be anything but themselves. That's all.

No matter what they wish for, no matter how far they go, people can never be anything but themselves. That's all.

Haruki Murakami
Two people can sleep in the same bed and still be alone when they close their eyes

Two people can sleep in the same bed and still be alone when they close their eyes

Haruki Murakami
I have a million things to talk to you about. All I want in this world is you. I want to see you and talk. I want the two of us to begin everything from the beginning.

I have a million things to talk to you about. All I want in this world is you. I want to see you and talk. I want the two of us to begin everything from the beginning.

Haruki Murakami
The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can't be learned at school.

The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can't be learned at school.

Haruki Murakami
As time goes on, you'll understand. What lasts, lasts; what doesn't, doesn't. Time solves most things. And what time can't solve, you have to solve yourself.

As time goes on, you'll understand. What lasts, lasts; what doesn't, doesn't. Time solves most things. And what time can't solve, you have to solve yourself.

Haruki Murakami
Not just beautiful, though--the stars are like the trees in the forest, alive and breathing. And they're watching me.

Not just beautiful, though--the stars are like the trees in the forest, alive and breathing. And they're watching me.

Haruki Murakami
Chance encounters are what keep us going.

Chance encounters are what keep us going.

Haruki Murakami
That's what the world is , after all: an endless battle of contrasting memories.

That's what the world is , after all: an endless battle of contrasting memories.

Haruki Murakami
Only the Dead stay seventeen forever.

Only the Dead stay seventeen forever.

Haruki Murakami
A certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect.

A certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect.

Haruki Murakami
Memories and thoughts age, just as people do. But certain thoughts can never age, and certain memories can never fade.

Memories and thoughts age, just as people do. But certain thoughts can never age, and certain memories can never fade.

Haruki Murakami
Spend your money on the things money can buy. Spend your time on the things money can’t buy.

Spend your money on the things money can buy. Spend your time on the things money can’t buy.

Haruki Murakami
What do you think? I'm not a starfish or a pepper tree. I'm a living, breathing human being. Of course I've been in love.

What do you think? I'm not a starfish or a pepper tree. I'm a living, breathing human being. Of course I've been in love.

Haruki Murakami
What a terrible thing it is to wound someone you really care for and to do it so unconsciously.

What a terrible thing it is to wound someone you really care for and to do it so unconsciously.

Haruki Murakami
I'm a very ordinary human being; I just happen to like reading books.

I'm a very ordinary human being; I just happen to like reading books.

Haruki Murakami
No matter how far you travel, you can never get away from yourself.

No matter how far you travel, you can never get away from yourself.

Haruki Murakami
Most everything you think you know about me is nothing more than memories.

Most everything you think you know about me is nothing more than memories.

Haruki Murakami
I realize full well how hard it must be to go on living alone in a place from which someone has left you, but there is nothing so cruel in this world as the desolation of having nothing to hope for.

I realize full well how hard it must be to go on living alone in a place from which someone has left you, but there is nothing so cruel in this world as the desolation of having nothing to hope for.

Haruki Murakami
If you're in pitch blackness, all you can do is sit tight until your eyes get used to the dark

If you're in pitch blackness, all you can do is sit tight until your eyes get used to the dark

Haruki Murakami
Even if we could turn back, we'd probably never end up where we started.

Even if we could turn back, we'd probably never end up where we started.

Haruki Murakami
What makes us the most normal,

What makes us the most normal," said Reiko, "is knowing that we're not normal.

Haruki Murakami
So the fact that I’m me and no one else is one of my greatest assets. Emotional hurt is the price a person has to pay in order to be independent.

So the fact that I’m me and no one else is one of my greatest assets. Emotional hurt is the price a person has to pay in order to be independent.

Haruki Murakami
It's hard to tell the difference between sea and sky, between voyager and sea. Between reality and the workings of the heart.

It's hard to tell the difference between sea and sky, between voyager and sea. Between reality and the workings of the heart.

Haruki Murakami
What we seek is some kind of compensation for what we put up with.

What we seek is some kind of compensation for what we put up with.

Haruki Murakami
It is not that the meaning cannot be explained. But there are certain meanings that are lost forever the moment they are explained in words.

It is not that the meaning cannot be explained. But there are certain meanings that are lost forever the moment they are explained in words.

Haruki Murakami
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.

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.

Haruki Murakami
In a place far away from anyone or anywhere, I drifted off for a moment.

In a place far away from anyone or anywhere, I drifted off for a moment.

Haruki Murakami
I didn't have much to say to anybody but kept to myself and my books. With my eyes closed, I would touch a familiar book and draw it's fragrance deep inside me. This was enough to make me happy.

I didn't have much to say to anybody but kept to myself and my books. With my eyes closed, I would touch a familiar book and draw it's fragrance deep inside me. This was enough to make me happy.

Haruki Murakami
Sometimes I get real lonely sleeping with you.

Sometimes I get real lonely sleeping with you.

Haruki Murakami
I said nothing for a time, just ran my fingertips along the edge of the human-shaped emptiness that had been left inside me.

I said nothing for a time, just ran my fingertips along the edge of the human-shaped emptiness that had been left inside me.

Haruki Murakami
Body cells replace themselves every month. Even at this very moment. Most everything you think you know about me is nothing more than memories.

Body cells replace themselves every month. Even at this very moment. Most everything you think you know about me is nothing more than memories.

Haruki Murakami
Not that we were incompatible: we just had nothing to talk about.

Not that we were incompatible: we just had nothing to talk about.

Haruki Murakami
You can keep as quiet as you like, but one of these days somebody is going to find you.

You can keep as quiet as you like, but one of these days somebody is going to find you.

Haruki Murakami
Life is not like water. Things in life don't necessarily flow over the shortest possible route.

Life is not like water. Things in life don't necessarily flow over the shortest possible route.

Haruki Murakami
Everyone may be ordinary, but they're not normal.

Everyone may be ordinary, but they're not normal.

Haruki Murakami
I'm not so weird to me.

I'm not so weird to me.

Haruki Murakami
Dreams come from the past, not from the future. Dreams shouldn't control you--you should control them.

Dreams come from the past, not from the future. Dreams shouldn't control you--you should control them.

Haruki Murakami
So what’s wrong if there happens to be one guy in the world who enjoys trying to understand you?

So what’s wrong if there happens to be one guy in the world who enjoys trying to understand you?

Haruki Murakami
There's no such thing as perfect writing, just like there's no such thing as perfect despair.

There's no such thing as perfect writing, just like there's no such thing as perfect despair.

Haruki Murakami
People leave strange little memories of themselves behind when they die.

People leave strange little memories of themselves behind when they die.

Haruki Murakami
If you think God’s there, He is. If you don’t, He isn’t. And if that’s what God’s like, I wouldn’t worry about it.

If you think God’s there, He is. If you don’t, He isn’t. And if that’s what God’s like, I wouldn’t worry about it.

Haruki Murakami
The sky grew darker, painted blue on blue, one stroke at a time, into deeper and deeper shades of night.

The sky grew darker, painted blue on blue, one stroke at a time, into deeper and deeper shades of night.

Haruki Murakami
Whiskey, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation. You gaze first, then it's time to drink.

Whiskey, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation. You gaze first, then it's time to drink.

Haruki Murakami
Even chance meetings are the result of karma… Things in life are fated by our previous lives. That even in the smallest events there’s no such thing as coincidence.

Even chance meetings are the result of karma… Things in life are fated by our previous lives. That even in the smallest events there’s no such thing as coincidence.

Haruki Murakami
For both of us, it had simply been too enormous an experience. We shared it by not talking about it. Does this make any sense?

For both of us, it had simply been too enormous an experience. We shared it by not talking about it. Does this make any sense?

Haruki Murakami
Find me now. Before someone else does.

Find me now. Before someone else does.

Haruki Murakami
Something inside me had dropped away, and nothing came in to fill the cavern.

Something inside me had dropped away, and nothing came in to fill the cavern.

Haruki Murakami
She's letting out her feelings. The scary thing is not being able to do that. When your feelings build up and harden and die inside, then you're in big trouble.

She's letting out her feelings. The scary thing is not being able to do that. When your feelings build up and harden and die inside, then you're in big trouble.

Haruki Murakami
It's because of you when I'm in bed in the morning that I can wind my spring and tell myself I have to live another good day.

It's because of you when I'm in bed in the morning that I can wind my spring and tell myself I have to live another good day.

Haruki Murakami
We're both looking at the same moon, in the same world. We're connected to reality by the same line. All I have to do is quietly draw it towards me.

We're both looking at the same moon, in the same world. We're connected to reality by the same line. All I have to do is quietly draw it towards me.

Haruki Murakami
You can hide memories, but you can't erase the history that produced them.

You can hide memories, but you can't erase the history that produced them.

Haruki Murakami
If you can't understand it without an explanation, you can't understand it with an explanation.

If you can't understand it without an explanation, you can't understand it with an explanation.

Haruki Murakami
If they invent a car that runs on stupid jokes, you could go far.

If they invent a car that runs on stupid jokes, you could go far.

Haruki Murakami
Don't pointless things have a place, too, in this far-from-perfect world?

Don't pointless things have a place, too, in this far-from-perfect world?

Haruki Murakami
Each person feels pain in his own way, each has his own scars.

Each person feels pain in his own way, each has his own scars.

Haruki Murakami
There are ways of dying that don't end in funerals. Types of death you can't smell.

There are ways of dying that don't end in funerals. Types of death you can't smell.

Haruki Murakami
We knew exactly what we wanted in each other. And even so, it ended. One day it stopped, as if the film simply slipped off the reel.

We knew exactly what we wanted in each other. And even so, it ended. One day it stopped, as if the film simply slipped off the reel.

Haruki Murakami
The light of morning decomposes everything.

The light of morning decomposes everything.

Haruki Murakami
In a sense, I'm the one who ruined me: I did it myself.

In a sense, I'm the one who ruined me: I did it myself.

Haruki Murakami
I am nothing. I’m like someone who’s been thrown into the ocean at night, floating all alone. I reach out, but no one is there. I call out, but no one answers. I have no connection to anything.

I am nothing. I’m like someone who’s been thrown into the ocean at night, floating all alone. I reach out, but no one is there. I call out, but no one answers. I have no connection to anything.

Haruki Murakami
I've always done whatever I felt like doing in life. People may try to stop me, and convince me I'm wrong, but I won't change.

I've always done whatever I felt like doing in life. People may try to stop me, and convince me I'm wrong, but I won't change.

Haruki Murakami
When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.

When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.

Haruki Murakami
Have you ever had that feeling—that you’d like to go to a whole different place and become a whole different self?

Have you ever had that feeling—that you’d like to go to a whole different place and become a whole different self?

Haruki Murakami
Which is why I am writing this book. To think. To understand. It just happens to be the way I'm made. I have to write things down to feel I fully comprehend them.

Which is why I am writing this book. To think. To understand. It just happens to be the way I'm made. I have to write things down to feel I fully comprehend them.

Haruki Murakami
Somewhere in his body--perhaps in the marrow of his bones--he would continue to feel her absence.

Somewhere in his body--perhaps in the marrow of his bones--he would continue to feel her absence.

Haruki Murakami
Nothing in the real world is as beautiful as the illusions of a person about to lose consciousness.

Nothing in the real world is as beautiful as the illusions of a person about to lose consciousness.

Haruki Murakami
In the world we live in, what we know and what we don't know are like Siamese twins, inseparable, existing in a state of confusion.

In the world we live in, what we know and what we don't know are like Siamese twins, inseparable, existing in a state of confusion.

Haruki Murakami
What I want is for the two of us to meet somewhere by chance one day, like, passing on the street, or getting on the same bus.

What I want is for the two of us to meet somewhere by chance one day, like, passing on the street, or getting on the same bus.

Haruki Murakami
But what seems like a reasonable distance to one person might feel too far to somebody else.

But what seems like a reasonable distance to one person might feel too far to somebody else.

Haruki Murakami
All I do is keep on running in my own cozy, homemade void, my own nostalgic silence. And this is a pretty wonderful thing. No matter what anybody else says.

All I do is keep on running in my own cozy, homemade void, my own nostalgic silence. And this is a pretty wonderful thing. No matter what anybody else says.

Haruki Murakami
Loneliness becomes an acid that eats away at you.

Loneliness becomes an acid that eats away at you.

Haruki Murakami