Quotes by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Ones appearance bespeaks dignity corresponding to the depth of his character. Ones 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.

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.

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 dont 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 isnt enough to make our lives have a meaning.

“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.”