Book Thief

"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a woman!"

"I'm not underestimating you. But be careful not to be underestimated by the men at this station. What is the purpose of your existence?"

"Purpose of my existence? I'm just a tease, a mascot, an errand girl, and a number-cruncher. What else?"

"These men, especially those who are on the side of power, work in cliques and do bad things. Covering up inconvenient things, secretly colluding. When there's a woman in the mix it's hard for the men to do that. Because it disrupts the bonds of iron. Isn't that why you're here? You're in position to keep an eye on the men. You may be struggling to join the all-boys club but it's not a club or anything. You are a different creature, so be that different creature."

Jdrama: Mystery to Lunakare (2022)

"What is the one thing you believe will stay the same forever?"

"I believe in gravity. The only thing I believe that will be constant in this world is gravity. I don't believe in anything to stay the same forever. Because believing in something like that sets expectations for how things should turn out. However, gravity is constant regardless of any expectations. That's why I can believe only in gravity."

"If you feel exhausted, just give up. You're not superwoman. You're just a woman. Attacking people who have different views and forming cliques. Humans have always been like this. No matter how strong a person is, he can't survive on his own."

"Do you know Sisyphus?"

"The pitiful guy in Greek mythology who was punished by the gods to roll a boulder up a hill his whole life?"

"He was happy. He always had a goal and motivation, so he was never lost. That's who I want to be. So no matter how hard it is, I won't be afraid. In Greek mythology, the story of Sisyphus is my favorite. He abducted the God of Death to eliminate death in human world. His action irritated all gods so he was punished to push a huge rock to a mountain's top. But the rock was so heavy that each time he was to make it to the top the rock would roll down again. Thus he kept repeating the same thing forever."

"So even if sidelined by all you will still stick to your own values? Sisyphus at least fought the God of Death. What have you done for the world?"

"Do you know what an Oiran is? They were the highest class prostitute during the Edo period. What do you think was needed for them to become an Oiran?"

"Their face to begin with. And the rest is whether they're good at sex, right? Then maybe I can become one. I'm often told that I'm good at it."

"You don't stand a chance. To become an Oiran, you must have class. Classics and literature, go, shogi, dancing and singing, shamisen, koto, tea ceremony, flower arrangement. These women learned calligraphy and even their handwriting was beautiful. In other words, sexual appeal isn't the only way to charm people. Ah, of course, I'm not condoning the prostitution work these women were subjected to."

I dont help others because of kindness... wanting people to rely on me and feel grateful is an easy way to acknowledge my existence. Because it makes the living guilt feel lesser. Everyone is being fooled. I am just a cunning woman.

"I think I am hollow. I can't think about anything, I don't make any efforts either."

"You are not hollow. A person who is really hollow can't just go and help others when they see them. Have some confidence."

Is it because I was trying too hard, or I was trying my best in the wrong way? I didn't know what was going on anymore. To be honest, I'm still scared to try my best, and I cut corners where I can. I'm afraid of getting hurt by trying too hard. It's sad, right? But I never thought that the day would come when I would suppress my willingness to do my best at something. I never chose to not do my best. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

It is better to get bitten by a crazy dog from another family. If your own pet dog bites you, it really breaks your heart.

"If you gain something, you lose something. Everything you've gained in life were thanks to the things you lost. I get what that means now. You need winter to have spring and darkness to have light. Death must exist for life. It's like that, isn't it? So you are winter, darkness, and death."

"They say everyone is one in heart when sowing the seeds, but wants different things once the fruits grow."

Gu Xiang looked at Wen Kexing, she finally knew how a person could be so unabashed they would put the rest of the world to shame.

She realized they were just birds of a same damn feather, no wonder they flocked together. She could only hope now that they had each other to mess around and fight their energy away with, they would cause less disaster for the world.

“Wen Kexing, screw your entire ancestors…”

“My ancestors are just dust now, I don’t even know their names, so that might be an impossible feat. Though, if you can remove your disguise, and under that is a stunning face, I’m perfectly willing to be a replacement for my forebears.”

"Close friends of generations deceive each other. Newly met strangers entrust each other with their lives."

ZZ: I am asking you directly because I treat you as a friend.

WX: You are treating me as a friend? We have been through thick and thin many times. But, you are only treating me as a friend. Seems like you have to work harder. Why don't you ask me what I think of you?

ZZ: I don't care. Let's go. *leaves*

The flowers blossom in all four seasons knowing everything in the world.

"He looks like he's nice, but when no one's looking at him, his glance is even scarier than a ghost's. But I feel like when he's around, you feel more like a person."

If you've made a promise but you can't take care of it for the rest of your life, you might as well finish it ahead of time.