Letters are just pieces of paper," I said. "Burn them, and what stays in your heart will stay; keep them, and what vanishes will vanish.
The quote from Haruki Murakami's "Norwegian Wood" emphasizes the transient nature of written words. It suggests that letters, despite their physical form, do not contain the essence of our feelings. When they are destroyed, the emotions they once represented may remain in our hearts, while the letters themselves are ultimately inconsequential. This view challenges the idea that preserving messages ensures lasting connections.
The passage highlights the distinction between material objects and emotional truths. While letters can symbolize sentiments, they can also be forgotten or lose their significance over time. In recognizing that what truly matters is the emotional impact we carry, Murakami invites readers to focus on the deeper connections that persist beyond the physical remnants of communication.
