Yamamoto Tsunetomo Quotes & Sayings

Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it was somewhere else. No one seems to have noticed this fact. But grasping this firmly, one must pile experience upon experience. And once one has come to this understanding he will be a different person from that point on, though he may not always bare it in mind. When one understands this settling into single-mindedness well, his affairs will thin out. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

There are few people who will make mistakes with fire after having once been burned. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

When meeting difficult situations, one should dash forward bravely and with joy. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Looking comparatively at the good things, you will see that they are not excluded from wisdom, humanity and bravery. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

The saying 'the arts aid the body' is for samurai of other regions. For samurai of the Nabeshima clan the arts bring ruin to the body. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. — 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

There is not a man who does not get senile by the time he reaches sixty. And when one thinks that he will not be senile, he is already so. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

I have found that the Way of the samurai is death. This means that when you are compelled to choose between life and death, you must quickly choose death. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

It is a good viewpoint to see the world as a dream. When you have something like a nightmare, you will wake up and tell yourself that it was only a dream. It is said that the world we live in is not a bit different from this. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Not to borrow the strength of another, nor to rely on one's own strength; to cut off past and future thoughts, and not to live within the everyday mind ... then the Great Way is right before your eyes. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

One should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

One's appearance bespeaks dignity corresponding to the depth of his character. One's concentrated effort, serene attitude, taciturn air, courteous disposition, thoroughly polite bearing, gritted teeth with a piercing look - each of these reveals dignity. Such outward appearance, in short, comes from constant attentiveness and seriousness. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

There is one transcending level, and this is the most excellent of all. This person is aware of the endlessness of entering deeply into a certain Way and never thinks of himself as having finished. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

By being impatient, matters are damaged and great works cannot be done — 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

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

Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier of usefulness. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

All abilities come from one mind — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

You cannot tell whether a person is good or bad by his vicissitudes in life. Good and bad fortune are matters of fate. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Our bodies are given life from the midst of nothingness. Existing where there is nothing is the meaning of the phrase, "Form is emptiness." That all things are provided for by nothingness is the meaning of the phrase, "Emptiness is form." One should not think that these are two seperate things. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

If you are slain in battle, you should be resolved to have your corpse facing the enemy. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Calculating people are contemptable. The reason for this is that calculation deals with loss and gain, and the loss and gain mind never stops. Death is considered loss and life is considered gain. Thus, death is something that such a person does not care for, and he is contemptable. Furthermore, scholars and their like are men who with wit and speech hide their own true cowardice and greed. People often misjudge this. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

As everything in this world is but a sham. Death is the only sincerity. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

It is difficult for a fool's habits to change to selflessness. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

If one thinks only of winning, a sordid victory will be worse than a defeat. For the most part, it becomes a squalid defeat. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

It is said that one should not hesitate to correct himself when he has made a mistake. If he corrects himself without the least bit of delay, his mistakes will disappear. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

When confronted with two alternatives, life and death, one is to choose death without hesitation. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Covetousness, anger and foolishness are things to sort out well. When bad things happen in the world, if you look at them comparatively, they are not unrelated to these three things. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

When someone is giving you his opinion, you should receive it with deep gratitude even though it is worthless. If you don't, he will not tell you the things that he has seen and heard about you again. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

By bringing shame to a person, how could one expect to make him a better man? — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

An affected laugh shows lack of self-respect in a man and lewdness in a woman. It is carelessness to go about with one's hands inside the slits in the sides of his hakama. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Even if one's head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

All of man's work is a bloody business. That fact, today, is considered foolish, affairs are finished cleverly with words alone, and jobs that require effort are avoided. I would like young men to have some understanding of this. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things that you like. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

When something out of the ordinary happens, it is ridiculous to say that it is a mystery or a portent of something to come ... the mystery is created in (their) minds, and by waiting for disaster, it is from their very minds that it occurs. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

When delivering something like an important letter or other written materials, grasp it firmly in your hand as you go and do not release it once, but hand it over directly to the recipient. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

A warrior is worthless unless he rises above others and stands strong in the midst of a storm. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

In China there was once a man who liked pictures of dragons, and his clothing and furnishings were all designed accordingly. His deep affection for dragons was brought to the attention of the dragon god, and onde day a real dragon appeared before his window. It is said that he died of fright. He was probably a man who always spoke big words but acted differently when facing the real thing. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Death seems to be a long way off. Is this not shallow thinking? It is worthless and is only a joke within a dream. It will not do to think in such a way and be negligent. Insofar as death is always at one's door, one should make sufficient effort and act quickly. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

It is a principle of the art of war that one should simply lay down his life and strike. If one's opponent also does the same, it is a even match. Defeating one's opponent is then a matter of faith and destiny. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

The end is important in all things. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

All of us want to live, and that is absolutely natural. However, we should learn from childhood on to choose our best way to die. If we don't do that, we end up spending our days like a dog, only in search of harbour, food and expressing a blind loyalty to his owner in return. That isn't enough to make our lives have a meaning. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

One should be wary of talking on end about such subjects as learning, morality or folklore in front of elders or people of rank. It is disagreeable to listen to. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

It is better to have some unhappiness while one is still young, for if a person does not experience some bitterness, his disposition will not settle down. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Every day without fail one should consider himself as dead. There is a saying of the elders that goes, 'Step from under the eaves and you're a dead man. Leave the gate and the enemy is waiting.' This is not a matter of being careful. It is to consider oneself as dead beforehand. — 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

As long as people overlook matters, then inferiors can, without any fear, lead an easy and peaceful life. — 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

Light matters should be dealt with seriously. Serious matters should be dealt with lightly. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

The heart of a virtuous person has settled down and he does not rush about at things. A person of little merit is not at peace but walks about making trouble and is in conflict with all. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

What is called generosity is really compassion. In the Shin'ei it is written "Seen from the eye of compassion, there is noone to be disliked. One who has sinned is to be pitied all the more." There is no limit to the breadth and depth of ones heart. There is room enough for all. That we still worship the sages of the three ancient kingdoms is because their compassion reaches us yet today. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Learning is a good thing, but more often it leads to mistakes. It is like the admonition of the priest Konan. It is worthwhile just looking at the deeds of accomplished persons for the purpose of knowing our own insufficiencies. But often this does not happen. For the most part, we admire our own opinions and become fond of arguing. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

By inconsistency and frivolity we stray from the Way and show ourselves to be beginners. In this we do much harm. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it will not do to think about going at it in a long roundabout way. One's heart may slacken, he may miss his chance, and by and large there will be no success. The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy, and it is best to dash in headlong. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day one should meditate on being carried away by surging waves, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

If a retainer will just think about what he is to do for the day at hand, he will be able to do anything. If it is a single day's work, one should be able to put up with it. Tomorrow, too is but a single day. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

The deepest love is often hidden. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

The person who practices an art is an artist, not a samurai, and one should have the intention of being called a samurai. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

To desire with one's very soul every second of every day to accomplish one's aim. — 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

It is better not to become acquainted with men about whom you have formerly had doubts. No matter what you do, they will be people by whom you will be tripped up or taken in. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo

The basic meaning of etiquette is to be quick at both the beginning and end and tranquil in the middle. — Yamamoto Tsunetomo