This quote by Shiroyama encapsulates a deep yearning for authenticity and clarity in human life and the nature of reality itself. The repeated desire for a world free from illusions—where masks are shed, and true selves are visible—reflects a longing for honesty and transparency. It suggests a frustration with the layers of deception that often obscure genuine human connections, highlighting how societal roles, pretenses, and self-imposed facades create an illusion of identity that complicates understanding and trust.

Furthermore, the metaphor of a "clean board of lines and intersections" conjures imagery of a universe that operates on strict, logical principles—predictable, organized, and free from chaos. This could represent a desire for a world governed by rules and clarity, where the path of one's life is well-defined and decisions are straightforward, rather than entangled in confusion.

The final thought about time—wishing it to be a "sequence of considered moves"—embodies the wish for life to be a strategic game rather than a chaotic tumble of accidental slips and errors. This underscores a longing for control, mastery, and purpose, where every step is deliberate and meaningful.

Overall, this quote invites reflection on the nature of identity, the tension between order and chaos, and our innate desire for meaning and honesty in a complex world. It speaks to universal human struggles—the quest for authenticity amid societal masks, the need for order in a confusing world, and a hope for purposeful existence rather than one dictated by chance.

(The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet) - David Mitchell