Quote of the day by Haruki Murakami: ‘Life is not like water. Things in life don’t necessarily flow over the shortest possible route.’ Bittersweet life lesson from Japanese author teaches us that life is unpredictable and we will experience setbacks

Life is anything but predictable. Just when you think you have sorted out your life, your best-laid plans may fail miserably. On the other hand, life may also surprise you with success when you are not seeking it at all. Life defies all predictability and cannot really be ‘planned’ or be forced to fit into a specific vision no matter how much we try. That doesn’t mean we should give up on making long-term plans or become disorganised, but we should always be prepared for failure. Just in case. A decade ago, in one of his novels, eminent author Haruki Murakami warned readers how life defies our expectations at all stages.

Quote Of The Day By Haruki Murakami Teaches Us That Life Will Surprise Us

In his 2009 novel 1Q84, a character, Tengo, compares life to water. Water follows a familiar trajectory, but life doesn’t: “Life is not like water. Things in life don’t necessarily flow over the shortest possible route,” he wrote.

Deeper Meaning Of The Quote

The quote underlines the bittersweet reality of life. Unlike water, which takes the path of least resistance, taking the shortest, most effective route, life doesn’t follow such straight lines. Murakami reminds us that life continues to surprise, shock and frustrate us. There will be unexpected delays, failures and disappointments, windfall gains, but also crippling losses. Although these can be incredibly frustrating, they can also make us more resilient and also be more realistic about our dreams.

Relevance Of The Quote

Murakami’s words remain relevant in every age. No matter how much we plan or plot or think our plans are infallible, life will shock us with sudden losses, be it deaths of near or dear ones, job losses, unexpected setbacks and financial crises, separations, etc. Most of these will be unforeseen. While we cannot see them coming, what we can do is to learn from these mistakes and become more resilient and resourceful. Till the end of our days, life will defy our expectations and shock us; we can do naught but be prepared to face the unexpected.

Who Is Haruki Murakami?

One of the leading novelists from Japan, Haruki Murakami’s novels have sold millions of copies and have also been translated into more than 50 languages. Some of his most popular works include Kafka On The Shore, Norwegian Woods, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, etc.

At the age of 29, Murakami began penning novels. He had led a somewhat typical life up to that point, running a jazz club without creating any original art. His career as a novelist started out of the blue while he was watching a baseball game and had the sudden inspiration to write a book. He went back home that same evening and began writing Hear the Wind Sing, his debut novel. After finishing the text, he entered it in the only literary competition that would take a piece of that length, and he eventually took home the top prize.

He achieved his literary breakthrough with the 1987 novel Norwegian Woods, which made him a global literary figure. The novel was adapted for a film in 2010 and earned a respectable $17 million globally.