Yamamoto Tsunetomo Quotes

Tether even a roasted chicken.

Kai ta­vo pro­tas blaš­ko­si tai šen, tai ten, ap­mąs­ty­mai niekuomet ne­virs tei­sin­go­mis iš­va­do­mis. Tik bū­da­mas tvir­tos, skais­čios ir ne­mir­tin­gos dva­sios žmo­gus įstengs pro­tin­gai nuspręs­ti įkvė­pęs ir iš­kvė­pęs sep­ty­nis kar­tus. Ta­čiau tam jis pri­va­lo bū­ti ryž­tin­gas ir pa­si­ren­gęs nu­šluo­ti vi­sa sa­vam ke­ly­je.

Even if it seems certain that you will lose, retaliate.

A person who knows but a little will put on an air of knowledge. This is a matter of inexperience. When someone knows something well, it will not be seen in his manner.

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.

To give a person one's opinion and correct his faults is an important thing. It is compassionate and comes first in matters of service. But the way of doing this is extremely difficult. To discover the good and bad points of a person is an easy thing, and to give an opinion concerning them is easy, too. For the most part, people think that they are being kind by saying the things that others find distasteful or difficult to say. But if it is not received well, they think that there is nothing more to be done. This is completely worthless. It is the same as bringing shame to a person by slandering him. It is nothing more than getting it off one's chest. To give a person an opinion one must first judge well whether that person is of the disposition to receive it or not. One must become close with him and make sure that he continually trusts one's word. Approaching subjects that are dear to him, seek the best way to speak and to be well understood. Judge the occasion, and determine whether it is better by letter or at the time of leave-taking. Praise his good points and use every device to encourage him, perhaps by talking about one's own faults without touching on his, but so that they will occur to him. Have him receive this in the way that a man would drink water when his throat is dry, and it will be an opinion that will correct faults. This is extremely difficult. If a person's fault is a habit of some years prior, by and large it won't be remedied. I have had this experience myself. To be intimate with all one's comrades, correcting each other's faults, and being of one mind to be of use to the master is the great compassion of a retainer. By bringing shame to a person, how could one expect to make him a better man?

To talk about other people's affairs is a great mistake. To praise them, too, is unfttting. In any event, it is best to know your own ability well, to put forth effort in your endeavors, and to be discreet in speech.

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.

A faultless person is one who withdraws from affairs. This must be done with strength.

No matter if the enemy has thousands of men, there is fulfillment in simply standing them off and being determined to cut them all down, starting from one end.

If one does not get it into his head from the very beginning that the world is full of unseemly situations, for the most part his demeanour will be poor and he will not be believed by others.

...si es diligente en su servicio y se perfecciona en las artes militares, no se cubrirá jamás de vergüenza. Pero si se dedica a hacer egoístamente lo que le plazca, en caso de crisis se deshonrará. Incluso, no será jamás consciente de su deshonra. Si nada le importa, excepto el hecho de no estar en peligro y de sentirse feliz, se descuidará de una manera completamente lamentable.

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.

setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he pains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.

Victory and defeat are matters of the temporary force of circumstances. The way of avoiding shame is different. It is simply in death.