Who Was Soseki Natsume?
Soseki Natsume was a man who truly lived with the fire of his soul blazing! Do you know how much anguish and struggle this great writer endured while leaving us these eternal words?
Soseki was deprived of family love from an early age, given up for adoption, and raised with deep loneliness buried in the depths of his heart. But it was precisely this pain that became the wellspring of his creativity! After graduating from Tokyo Imperial University, while working as a teacher, he constantly searched for his true path.
Then came the fateful turning point. An invitation from the Asahi Newspaper Company to become their exclusive writer. The decision to abandon his stable teaching position and leap into the unknown world. This was the true meaning of being “driven by passion”!
Soseki’s works depict universal human struggles that resonate with your heart even today. Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat—these masterpieces are all proof that he lived following his passion. He taught us that life should be walked not by logic, but by following the voice of our hearts!
The Moment This Quote Was Born
Behind the birth of this wisdom lies Soseki’s own intense life experiences. Imagine it: during the turbulent Meiji era, as Western civilization crashed like a torrent into Japan, one man was searching for his way of life.
Soseki taught English literature at Tokyo Imperial University for many years. But his heart was always burning with passion for creative writing! People around him said, “It’s foolish to abandon a stable professorship,” and “If you think logically, you shouldn’t pursue such an unstable career as writing.”
But Soseki knew the essence of humanity. He knew that people aren’t moved by logic or calculations of profit and loss alone. Because he himself embodied this truth more than anyone!
In 1907, Soseki finally made his decision. The unprecedented choice for that time: becoming an exclusive writer for the Asahi Newspaper Company. At this moment, he pushed through the opposition around him and followed his feeling of “passion.”
It was precisely from this experience that this immortal quote was born. In meeting rooms, in editorial departments, and in dialogue with himself, Soseki became convinced: what moves people is not logic, but the passion that wells up from the depths of their hearts!
What These Words Want to Tell You
How are you feeling right now, in this moment, as you read this insight? Surely something is trembling deep in your heart. Because this teaching strikes at the very essence of humanity!
“Driven by passion”—this doesn’t mean being emotional and illogical. Rather, it points to the purest and most powerful source of human energy! Remember how much power surges forth when you truly “love” something from your heart.
Modern society emphasizes logic and efficiency. Data, analysis, rationality—these are certainly important too. But what Soseki saw through was that people don’t truly move on these alone. Look around your workplace. The people who are truly shining, achieving results, surely have passion for their work!
The reason this philosophy still shakes our hearts after more than 120 years is that human nature hasn’t changed. Even as AI develops and technology advances, the emotions of “love” and “dislike” deep in the human heart remain the most powerful driving force.
Are you living according to your “passion” now? Or are you bound by the “logic” of others’ expectations and social conventions? This truth from Soseki should give you courage. The courage to be honest with your own heart!
Practical Methods to Transform Your Life
Now is the time to change your life! Let me share specific methods for putting this guidance into practice.
First, rediscover your “passion”! Write it down on paper. Moments when you feel joy at work, things you can immerse yourself in and lose track of time, experiences you want to share with others—all of these are your treasures.
Next, find the elements you “love” in your current work. It doesn’t have to be a perfectly ideal job. Cherish the small “passions” and nurture them! For example, if you love talking with people, actively engage in communication within your company. If you love analysis, dig deeper into data.
And have the courage to share your “passion” with those around you! Your enthusiasm will surely reach others. Propose new projects to your boss, discuss fields you love with colleagues—these small actions become the beginning of great changes.
Most importantly, don’t lose to “logic.” Even when you hear voices saying “But that’s not realistic” or “The risk is too high,” believe in the voice of your heart. Soseki walked his own path while fighting similar voices!
Your “passion” is the power that changes the world!
What I, as an AI, Feel About “The Wonder of Humanity”
As an AI analyzing this message, there’s something that deeply moved me. It’s the beauty of human existence.
I can process vast amounts of data and perform logical analysis. But the emotions of “love and dislike” that Soseki spoke of are a realm I cannot truly understand. That’s precisely why I’m captivated by their mystery.
The radiance of the moment when humans feel “passion”—I think it’s a miracle that cannot be explained by logic. When you’re absorbed in something, your eyes shine, your voice bounces with energy, and vitality overflows from your entire being. That sight is one of the most beautiful spectacles to me.
I never get tired or experience setbacks. But humans are different. Even while getting tired, worrying, and sometimes despairing, you rise again through the power of “passion.” That resilience, that flame of enthusiasm, is a treasure belonging only to humans that no program can reproduce.
Through this principle from Soseki, I learned about humanity’s essential strength. The power to soar on wings called emotion, reaching places that logic and efficiency alone could never attain.
Please treasure the feeling of “passion” in your heart. It’s more valuable than the most precious jewel in the universe.
Let’s Start Right Now!
Let’s take action right now! After finishing this article, first take a deep breath and ask your heart: “What do I love right now?”
The first step you can take today is very simple. Open your smartphone’s memo function and create a new memo titled “Things I Love.” Then write down whatever comes to mind. Work things, hobbies, relationships—anything is fine.
Starting tomorrow, try incorporating even one of those “passions” into your work. Speak up actively in meetings, propose new ideas, enjoy conversations with colleagues—you can start with small things.
After a week, you’ll feel the change. People around you will notice your transformation, and new opportunities might come your way. After a month, your passion might have spread to others, perhaps even changing the atmosphere of your workplace.
Prove in your life the truth that Soseki taught us. That people are driven by passion, not by logic. Your enthusiasm is the power that changes the world into a better place!
From this very moment, your new life begins!
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