Yamamoto Tsunetomo Quotes

62 Sourced Quotes

Nothing is impossible in this world. Firm determination, it is said, can move heaven and earth. Things appear far beyond one's power, because one cannot set his heart on any arduous project due to want of strong will.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yamamoto Tsunetomo
When one is writing a letter, he should think that the recipient will make it into a hanging scroll.

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

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
Sincerity does not only complete the self; it is the means by which all things are completed. As the self is completed, there is human-heartedness; as things are completed, there is wisdom. This is the virtue of one's character, and the Way of joining the internal and external. Thus, when we use this, everything is correct.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo
It is a wretched thing that the young men of today are so contriving and so proud of their material posessions. Men with contriving hearts are lacking in duty. Lacking in duty, they will have no self-respect.

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
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
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
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