There's nothing I hate more than people who brush off hobbies of reading manga and watching anime as 'childish' or 'just reading comic books'. As an English major, the first thing that comes to my mind is: What on earth is wrong with reading comic books? There is virtue in all kinds of reading and literature, and manga in particular has a bevy of teachings and morals that are on par with those in great works of literature. Besides, here in the West we rarely get a taste of Eastern culture and philosophies in places outside of school. Manga has in many ways exposed me to ideas I would have never thought of on my own, and that is an experience very far from childish.
There are many quotes I have uncovered in anime and manga that have influenced me as both a person and a fan or writing, and I'm sure that most fans have had similar experiences. In this posting, I would like to share some of my favorites from the shows/games I love and keep coming back to. These are the ones that have stayed on the top of my head and made me think, and I hope as I continue to read and watch and reread and rewatch that I'll be able to add more to my collection of wisdom (and the walls of my dorm!). Please note that translations vary: some are from the published versions, some are fan translations. The integrity of the statement should still be intact, even if its not the 'official' translation.
1. "Even if you protect the weak and the ones you love by sacrificing of yourself with the compassion of the Buddha himself, sorrow will remain in those people. They will never be truly happy. Even if you quell danger with your fierce anger, sacrificing your life... it is only for one short moment in time, and time goes on. The will to live is the heart of existence. Do not forget that" -Hiko Seijuro from Rurouni Kenshin
Why it rules: In anime, manga, literature, and life there are people in the world who are death seekers (people who have lost their purpose and motivation and are all right with the idea of dying regardless of the feelings of those who love them) or who place their survival as secondary to someone else. We all have a little bit of this inside us. There are several people I would willingly take a bullet for, and as a society as a whole, we often see nothing wrong with taking actions such as these. In fact, Maximilian Kolbe's sainthood in the Catholic church has a lot to do with his decision to give up his life for the sake of a stranger in Auschwitz. We love sacrifice and see it as the ultimate symbol of kindness and friendship, but what Master Hiko reminds us is that there are always people left behind in these instances who are filled with guilt at being sacrificed for, and are kept from being able to find happiness. Oftentimes, they find themselves resenting the person for throwing themselves away and diminishing their own value. Whatever your perceptions of sacrifices are, several characters have faced the brunt of them in anime and manga (Franz and Albert from Gankutsuou, Seishriou and Subaru from Tokyo Babylon and X, Natalia and Asch from Tales of the Abyss come to mind), and it makes one question whether or not sacrifice is a kindness or a cruelty.
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| Master Hiko's words of wisdom encourages Kenshin not to treat his life lightly and cause Kaoru and the people who love him pain. |
2. "The thing that makes that person special, the things that make him different from the rest is that he is him. I have found him: the things that he can't do because he is him, the things that he can do because he is him. I fell in love with him because he is that person. And I believe he will find them: the things I can do because I am me and the things I can't do because I am me, and then... hopefully he will love me... because I am me." -from 'A City With No People' in Chobits
Why it rules: I'm sure it's not uncommon for people to date/be involved with someone who asks 'Why do you have to be so ____?" or "I don't like it how you ____". Sure, there are plenty of things about us that bother other people and habits that we would be better off correcting. But a person who truly loves us will take the time to realize what we are and are not capable of doing, and respect us all the same. The things that define who we truly are (rather than habits and conditions that are temporary and changeable) should not be brushed aside because they do not suit someone else's tastes. As another guru Dr. Seuss once said, "Be yourself, because the people who mind don't matter, and the people that matter don't mind."
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| This story within a story offers the insights that make Chobits so thought provoking |
3. "Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality." -Aster and Richter Abend from Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Why it rules: This oft repeated line from the game probably drove a few fans crazy, but I personally took it to heart even though between Richter, Emil, Marta, etc. the saying was drummed quite forcefully into the players' heads. However, truer words were never spoken over and over again. Most dreams we have, be it personal or professional, aren't going to come true if we sit by passively and wait. And to take action and make a difficult ambition or hope more than just a private wish, what do we need? We need many things, in truth, but courage is number one on the list. If you're not brave enough to step up and own your wish, then there's really no point in wishing it to begin with (unless it's a pipe dream, although those also serve to motivate people towards achievable goals). These words certainly had an effect on Emil, and on Richter as well, and led them both to overcome prejudices and self-inflicted doubt to fight for the side they believed in.
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| If you ever forget these words, Emil will be happy to have ten flashbacks to Richter saying it to him. |
4. "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet your father, kill your father. Free of everything, you are bound by nothing. Live the life that was given to you." -as repeated by Koumyou Sanzo in Saiyuki
Why it rules: It seems like a cold hearted statement on the surface, and it is often used as such by Genjyo Sanzo when he is attempting to distance himself from his companions in order not to burden them with having dependence on him (the sacrifice of Koumyou Sanzo on his behalf was the cause of this, which makes an interesting connection to quote one), but this quote is actually quite good advice for those of us who rely overmuch on the influence of others on our lives (family, religion, peers, media, etc). We don't necessarily have to go around killing these connections (the quote isn't meant to be taken THAT literally) or ignoring them completely, but it is important to be aware of them and how they take us down paths that we would never choose ourselves if it was up to only us and what motivates us inside. There is virtue in guiding ourselves rather than being guided by others, and in recognizing the life we want rather than the one others want for us.
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| Koumyou's words have a huge impact on how Sanzo chooses to live his adult life. |
5. "No one should tell you how to mourn. And when someone says 'move on', you take their hand and say, 'my choice'" - Aveline from Dragon Age II
Why it rules: While not an anime example, this line is too excellent for me not to include it. Aveline is addressing Hawke during a particularly painful time in his/her life, and shares a story of how when she was younger and read with her father, he would not turn the page until she guided his hand to indicate that she was ready. In a similar way, we cannot always allow others to move us forward when we are mourning, and 'turn the page' before we are ready to move on. In a similar fashion to the quote above, the way we live our lives is ultimately our choice, and even if we allow others to choose for us, we have chosen or consented to submit our will to their guidance. If we want to live this life given to us, our hands should be the one moving the page forward, even if it does so grasping on to someone else's.
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| Aveline's advice is rare moment of tenderness from the typically solid woman. |
6. "The instant one gives up, that is when it all ends. Keep wishing. Wish strongly! Wish hard! Do not let it matter what kind of being you are! Do not let it matter what pressures others put on you! Continue to wish for that which your heart truly desires!" -Ashura (of Shura Country) from Tsubasa
Why it rules: This advice, given to Syaoran before Ashura submits to death at having failed to realize the impossible wish of reviving someone who had died, is something completely consistent with CLAMP philosophy, and with many of the other philosophies already expressed here. Ashura's wish was one he/she (oh, the challenges of English not having a suitable androgynous pronoun) knew could not be achieved, but the fact that he/she held onto it as a true desire of the heart speaks strongly to the importance of not compromising a wish for the sake of anything, even the demands of the world. The moment of giving up on an authentic and important wish really is a moment of no return. As one of my favorite bands Jimmy Eat World puts it, "When you let go, then that's where time will stand".
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| Syaoran respects Ashura's wish by never giving up the true desire of his heart during the events of Tsubasa. |
That's all for now, but as with my theme spotlights, I hope to post more great quotes in the future!
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