A Lecture by Great Author Soseki Natsume
The most popular author in the modern history of Japan, Soseki Natsume (1867-1916), once made a speech to young people.
As the audience were mostly students of universities, colleges, or high-schools, who were expected to become elite members of the Japanese society before WWII, Soseki especially dealt with their future. So, the highly-respected author, who once taught the English literature in the Imperial University of Tokyo, delivered a lecture.
"Most of you are elite students. When you graduate from schools, you would be regarded as elite candidates of the society. If you start to work in government offices or big enterprises, or engage in any professional work, you will be envied. And, as time goes by, you will have some power and wealth. Then commonplace people will have access to you for your power and wealth. They will flatter you to gain your favor. And you may corrupt and degenerate. You have to be careful in handling your power and wealth."
Soseki Natsume himself did not have access to politicians and financial cliques, though he was sometimes invited to parties or banquets by leaders in politics and business. Soseki kept some distance, in a deliberate way, to those elites of the Imperial Government and business leaders.
And, there were no other authors except Soseki who clearly gave a warning for negative effects of power and wealth on humanities in the history of the Japanese literature. Every author wants to be rich, influential, and famous. Ordinary authors cannot hold a warning for evil of money and social status, admonishing young people not to be influenced by a rotten climate of the society.
If you become very rich or obtain some political or social power with high status, you will have controlling power over some people. And, it will be very difficult for you to be benevolent, fair, just, and kind to them. One of the most important themes of literature must be this issue.
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Joh 9:14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.