250 Quotes by Arthur Golden

Some days the Arashinos’ little grandson, Juntaro, cried from hunger – which is when Mr. Arashino usually decided to sell a kimono from his collection. This was what we Japanese called the “onion life” – peeling away a layer at a time and crying all the while.

I’ve lived my life again just telling it to you.

You’ll be wrinkled yourself one day.” “But some of his wrinkles are the way he’s made,” I said. “The back of his head is as old as the front, but it’s as smooth as an egg.

Anyone can have a good day. The question is what do you do on a bad day. That’s when you’re being tested. In a very tangible sense, a bad day shows your innermost essence more than a good day.

Every man has his destiny. But who needs to go to a fortune-teller to find it? Do I go to a chef to find out if I’m hungry?

I would’ve had an easier time if my emotions had all pulled me in the same direction, but it wasn’t so simple. I’d been blown about like a scrap of paper in the wind.

If Mother and Mameha couldn’t come to an agreement, I would remain a maid all my life just as surely as a turtle remains a turtle.

When a man takes a mistress, he doesn’t turn around and divorce his wife.

A mouse who wishes to fool the cat doesn’t simply scamper out of its hole whenever it feels the slightest urge.