Sin, he reflected, is not what it is usually thought to be; it is not to steal and tell lies. Sin is for one man to walk brutally over the life of another and to be quite oblivious of the wounds he has left behind.
Shusaku EndoRead
A person never knows their own true face. Everybody thinks that the phoney, posed social mask they wear is their real face.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that individuals often hide their true selves behind a facade that they present to the world.
Shusaku Endo's quote explores the idea that people often confuse their social personas with their true identities. It emphasizes the discord between how individuals present themselves publicly and their authentic selves, suggesting a deeper philosophical inquiry into self-awareness and genuine existence. Ultimately, it invites reflection on the masks we wear and the importance of understanding our true selves beneath societal expectations and roles.
Themes
IdentitySelfMaskPhilosophyTruth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about authenticity in relationships.
More from Shusaku Endo
All quotes βOver the years I have forged intimate familial ties with these characters, who are reflections of a portion of myself. Consequently, even a character who appeared only once in a short story waits now in the wings, concealed by the curtain, for his next appearance on-stage. Not one of them has ever broken free of his familial ties with me and disappeared for ever - at least, not within the confines of my heart.
Shusaku EndoRead
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