Yamamoto Tsunetomo Quotes and Sayings - Page 1
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“There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you will still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“A warrior is worthless unless he rises above others and stands strong in the midst of a storm.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment. A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment. There will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue. Live being true to the single purpose of the moment.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one’s body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one’s master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“To give a person an opinion one must first judge well whether that person is of the disposition to receive it or not.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“Even if it seems certain that you will lose, retaliate. Neither wisdom nor technique has a place in this. A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. By doing this, you will awaken from your dreams.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“Go ahead and gamble a lie. A person who will not tell you seven lies within a hundred yards is useless as a man.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai: if by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. his whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“If a warrior is not unattached to life and death, he will be of no use whatsoever. The saying that “All abilities come from one mind†sounds as though it has to do with sentient matters, but it is in fact a matter of being unattached to life and death. With such non-attachment one can accomplish any feat.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“Bushido is realized in the presence of death. This means choosing death whenever there is a choice between life and death. There is no other reasoning.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier of usefulness.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“It is bad when one thing becomes two. One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. If one understands things in this manner, he should be able to hear about all Ways and be more and more in accord with his own.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“In the eyes of mercy, no one should have hateful thoughts. Feel pity for the man who is even more at fault. The area and size of mercy is limitless.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things that you like.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“One must know the so-called 'lesson of a downpour. A man, caught in a sudden rain en route, dashes along the road not to get wet or drenched. Once one takes it for granted that in rain he naturally gets wet, he can be in a tranquil frame of mind even when soaked to the skin. This lesson applies to everything.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“A warrior should not say something fainthearted, even casually. He should set his mind to this beforehand. Even in trifling matters the depths of one's heart can be seen.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“A samurai will use a toothpick even though he has not eaten. Inside the skin of a dog, outside the hide of a tiger.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“If one is but secure at the foundation, he will not be pained by departure from minor details or affairs that are contrary to expectation. But in the end, the details of a matter are important. The right and wrong of one's way of doing things are found in trivial matters.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“It is said that what is called "the spirit of an age" is something to which one cannot return. That this spirit gradually dissipates is due to the world's coming to an end. For this reason, although one would like to change today's world back to the spirit of one hundred years or more ago, it cannot be done. Thus it is important to make the best out of every generation.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“In the Kamigata area, they have a sort of tiered lunchbox they use for a single day when flower viewing. Upon returning, they throw them away, trampling them underfoot. The end is important in all things.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“There is nothing we should be quite so grateful for as the last line of the poem that goes, 'When your own heart asks.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“When one is writing a letter, he should think that the recipient will make it into a hanging scroll.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“The basic meaning of etiquette is to be quick at both the beginning and end and tranquil in the middle.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“Be true to the thought of the moment and avoid distraction. Other than continuing to exert yourself, enter into nothing else, but go to the extent of living single thought by single thought.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo -
“The Four Oaths: Never be late with respect to the way of the warrior; be useful to the lord; be respectful to your parents; get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of man.”
-- Yamamoto Tsunetomo
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