Quote of the night

One day, when Her Majesty was surrounded by several ladies, I remarked in connection with something that she had said, "There are times when the world so exasperates me that I feel I cannot go on living in it for another moment and I want to disappear for good. But then, if I happen to obtain some nice white paper, Michinoku paper, or white decorated paper, I decide that I can put up with things as they are a little longer. Or, if I can spread out a finely woven, green straw mat and examine the white bordering with its vivid black patterns, I somehow feel that I cannot turn my back on this world, and life actually seems precious to me."

"It really doesn't take much to console you," said the Empress, laughing.

-The Pillow Book, Sei Shonagon