# Quote — Osamu Dazai, Schoolgirl

> [...]books. I would scorn the pointless, haughty posturing, scorn its abstracted way of living. There I go again—pondering the purposelessness of my day-to-day life, wishing I had more ambition, and lamenting all the contradictions in myself—when I know it's just sentimental nonsense. All I'm doing is indulging myself, trying to console myself.

- Author: [Osamu Dazai](https://www.leafyquotes.com/osamu-dazai.md)
- Book: [Schoolgirl](https://www.leafyquotes.com/osamu-dazai/schoolgirl.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Osamu_Dazai#Schoolgirl) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/osamu-dazai/schoolgirl/books-i-would

## More from this book

> But what all of them were writing about were merely certainties. Impersonal things, things lacking depth. They were far removed from anything like real hopes or ambitions. Basically, uninspired things. They were criticisms, yes, but not actually things that had any positive bearing on my life. There was no introspection. No real self-awareness, self-regard, or self-respect. It may require courage to say what they said, but were they really able to take responsibility for the consequences? They may adapt their lifestyle to their environment, and may be capable of processing this but there's no true attachment to the self or to that particular lifestyle. There's no real sense of humility. A scarcity of creativity. Only mimicry. Any sense of innate "love" was simply lacking. They may put on airs but they had no dignity. Instead, all they did was write. It was really quite startling as I read. There was no denying it.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/osamu-dazai/schoolgirl/but-what-all.md)

> I didn't know whether it was better to maintain a fierce distinction between yourself and your acquaintances in society in order to deal with and respond properly to things in a pleasant manner, or rather never to hide yourself, to remain true to yourself always, even if they say bad things about you.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/osamu-dazai/schoolgirl/i-didnt-know.md)

> Whenever I let the slightest thing make me forget myself, I can't help but be disappointed.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/osamu-dazai/schoolgirl/whenever-i-let.md)