All children have to be deceived if they are to grow up without trauma. Kazuo Ishiguro More Quotes by Kazuo Ishiguro More Quotes From Kazuo Ishiguro Many of our deepest motives come, not from an adult logic of how things work in the world, but out of something that is frozen from childhood. Kazuo Ishiguro frozen childhood adults I'm interested in memory because it's a filter through which we see our lives, and because it's foggy and obscure, the opportunities for self-deception are there. In the end, as a writer, I'm more interested in what people tell themselves happened rather than what actually happened. Kazuo Ishiguro self opportunity memories Love isn't about when you first meet. It's about the many, many years you spend together, when you're trying to keep that flame burning. Kazuo Ishiguro flames love-is years There was another life that I might have had, but I am having this one. Kazuo Ishiguro another-life might inspirational If you are under the impression you have already perfected yourself, you will never rise to the heights you are no doubt capable of. Kazuo Ishiguro height impression doubt I discovered that my imagination came alive when I moved away from the immediate world around me. Kazuo Ishiguro alive imagination world I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it's just too much. The current's too strong. They've got to let go, drift apart. That's how it is with us. It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can't stay together forever. Kazuo Ishiguro strong letting-go love The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it. Kazuo Ishiguro evening done feet Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading. Kazuo Ishiguro never-let-me-go fading memories You have to accept that sometimes that's how things happen in this world. People's opinions, their feelings, they go one way, then the other. It just so happens you grew up at a certain point in this process. Kazuo Ishiguro feelings people world What is the point of worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one's life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and I at least try to make our small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that in itself, whatever the outcome, cause for pride and contentment. Kazuo Ishiguro sacrifice pride order Memory, I realize, can be an unreliable thing; often it is heavily coloured by the circumstances in which one remembers. Kazuo Ishiguro realizing remember memories …It’s hard to appreciate the beauty of a world when one doubts its very validity….But I’ve long since lost all such doubts, Ono,’ he continued. ‘When I am an old man, when I look back over my life and see I have devoted it to the task of capturing the unique beauty of that world, I believe I will be well satisfied. And no man will make me believe I’ve wasted my time. Kazuo Ishiguro unique men believe Don’t you wonder sometimes, what might have happened if you tried? Kazuo Ishiguro wonder might sometimes She always wanted to believe in things. Kazuo Ishiguro never-let-me-go wanted believe It was like when you make a move in chess and just as you take your finger off the piece, you see the mistake you've made, and there's this panic because you don't know yet the scale of disaster you've left yourself open to. Kazuo Ishiguro mistake life moving As a writer, I'm more interested in what people tell themselves happened rather than what actually happened. Kazuo Ishiguro self-deception literature people You're always in a rush, or else you're too exhausted to have a proper conversation. Soon enough, the long hours, the traveling, the broken sleep have all crept into your being and become part of you, so everyone can see it, in your posture, your gaze, the way you move and talk. Kazuo Ishiguro soon-enough sleep moving I have the feeling of this completely alternative person I should have become. There was another life that I might have had, but I’m having this one. Kazuo Ishiguro alternatives should-have feelings What is pertinent is the calmness of beauty, its sense of restraint. It is as though the land knows of its own beauty, its own greatness, and feels no need to shout it. Kazuo Ishiguro greatness land needs