Quotes from book
The Pillow Book

Name: The Pillow Book
Author: Sei Shonagon

Sei Shonagon Original title 枕草子 (Japanese)

The Pillow Book is a book of observations and musings recorded by Sei Shōnagon during her time as court lady to Empress Consort Teishi during the 990s and early 1000s in Heian Japan. The book was completed in the year 1002.

“In life there are two things which are dependable. The pleasures of the flesh and the pleasures of literature.”

Sei Shonagon book The Pillow Book

Source: The Pillow Book

“Pleasing things: finding a large number of tales that one has not read before. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed. But often it is a disappointment.”

Sei Shonagon book The Pillow Book

Source: The Pillow Book

“A man who has nothing in particular to recommend him discusses all sorts of subjects at random as though he knew everything.”

Sei Shonagon book The Pillow Book

Source: The Pillow Book
Source: The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon (1002), p. 44

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