It is spiritless to think that you cannot attain to that which you have seen and heard the masters attain. The masters are men. You are also a man. I… - Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Shower praise on one’s lord though he may be reticent and mediocre, and ensure that he can execute his duties without blundering. This will help cultivate his confidence. If he is an unyielding or intelligent leader, it is an act of “great loyalty” to be a thorn in his side to the extent that, before implementing his designs, he respects you enough to contemplate “What would my pesky retainer think?” Without such retainers, the lord will pay no attention to his men, thinking that his domain is full of panderers who cajole him to gain favor. He will then become conceited.

To say that dying without reaching one’s aim is to die a dog’s death is the frivolous way of sophisticates.

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