Today’s social science quote comes from Japanese-American human rights activist, Yuri Kochiyama. We investigate the origins of one of Kochiyama’s most inspirational sayings, as well as her ongoing legacy.

“Don’t become too narrow. Live fully. Meet all kinds of people. You’ll learn something from everyone. Follow what you feel in your heart.”

Quote and image source.

The above quote is an inspirational saying that is widely repeated, but did Kochiyama say it? It’s unclear.

I first came across it in 2015, in the source cited above. The quote appears in many reputable sources two decades after her death (1 June 2014), including CNN, and Hyphen Magazine, however, the original source is never cited.

Background

As documented in her 2003 memoir, Passing It On, Kochiyama’s political activism grew from her father’s internment during World War II. Her work expanded as she became involved in the Black American civil rights movement in the 1960s, and would forge into other national and global issues.

The quote does not appear in her memoir. Elements of the quote mirror the ideas in her memoir, though perhaps unsurprisingly, given the nature of looking back over one’s life. Let’s consider each sentence in turn.

Don’t become too narrow: The notion of being narrow only appears once, in the appendices, as part of a 1998 speech, ‘Mothers and Daughters’.

National pride may enhance one’s demeanor; but arrogance and narrowed nationalism is no different from racism.

Yuri Kochiyama, Passing It On, 2003: 209 (my emphasis)

Live fully: This phrase appears only once, as Kochiyama reflects on her husband’s passing:

we who are still alive must remember to live fully, deeply, and widely.

Yuri Kochiyama, Passing It On, 2003: 37 (my emphasis)

Meet all kinds of people: Kochiyama writes about how many meetings over her life changed her perspective, and how she worked hard to create and sustain ties with people from beyond her community. A summary of these key events (p.187) gives a flavour of how a commitment to meeting diverse people led to significant work.

You’ll learn something from everyone: Similarly, the idea of learning is a recurring theme. This first quote captures the spirit of meeting new people and learning from them:

As much as I enjoyed growing up in a friendly cosmopolitan small town, I needed to leave it and grow up, open myself to new ideas, meet new people, learn from life’s experiences

Yuri Kochiyama, Passing It On, 2003: xxiii (my emphasis)

People from all walks of life became part of our family. It was a learning experience about people in general and the varied situations in which they could find themselves in New York.

Yuri Kochiyama, Passing It On, 2003: 97 (my emphasis)

If we want to change society, we must begin by transforming ourselves: learning from one another about one another’s history, culture, dreams, hopes, personal experiences.

Yuri Kochiyama, Passing It On, 2003: 203 (my emphasis; from a 1998 article, based on a speech given in 1997)

Follow what you feel in your heart: References to “heart” are abundant in the memoir, but these are not evoked in this exact phrasing and meaning.

“Life is not what you alone make it”

Below is another famous—and traceable—wisdom from Kochiyama, also from her memoir. Typically, the quote appears as only the last three lines, but it is more useful in full context. This paragraph appears at the end of the preface, after Kochiyama leaves her grandchildren advice to weave a path beyond her shadow:

Just remember that what you put on your pedestal will be your main influence in your life. I am hoping you place love for your family, friends, and humanity; service to your community; concern for human rights, justice, and human dignity on your pedestal. And please show appreciation to friends, old and new. The precious, intangible gems like happiness, satisfaction, self-respect, and pride—they are the thanks to the people who come into your life. Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all a part of one another.

Yuri Kochiyama, Passing It On, 2003: xxi

Learn more

Visit the Yuri Kochiyama website to see current projects honouring her legacy.

Listen to this NPR podcast, that provides an overview of Kochiyama’s activism.

See Kochiyama’s grandchildren discuss the May 19th Project, a campaign and documentary series named after the shared birthday and friendship between Kochiyama and Malcom X. The project promotes solidarity between Asian Americans, Black Americans, and other people of colour.

Note

This post was updated with the “Background” and “Learn more” sections on 2 August, 2026.