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Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Yamamoto Tsunetomo Quotes

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Famous Yamamoto Tsunetomo Quotes

“There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment. A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment. There will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue. Live being true to the single purpose of the moment.”

MenLifeWholeMomentsLife IsPurposeWhole LifePursueBeing TrueBuddhistPresent MomentSuccession
Book:Honor: Samurai Philosophy of Life - The Essential Samurai Collection; The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai, Bushido: The Soul of Japan.
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“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.”

MenHeartSelfTodayYoungMaterialsDutyProudYoung ManSelf RespectLackingWretchedSamurai
Book:Honor: Samurai Philosophy of Life - The Essential Samurai Collection; The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai, Bushido: The Soul of Japan.
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“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.”

PeopleMenWarMatterTakenDoubtNo Matter What
Book:Honor: Samurai Philosophy of Life - The Essential Samurai Collection; The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai, Bushido: The Soul of Japan.
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“Go ahead and gamble a lie. A person who will not tell you seven lies within a hundred yards is useless as a man.”

MenPersonsWarLyingHundredSevenUselessYardsGamble
Book:Honor: Samurai Philosophy of Life - The Essential Samurai Collection; The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai, Bushido: The Soul of Japan.
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“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.”

KnowsMenMindLessonsRainSkinsCaughtGrantedWetRoutesTranquilFrame Of Mind
Book:The Hagakure - The Way of the Samurai
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“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.”

MenFactsTodayJobsYoungUnderstandingEffortLike YouAffairFinishedFoolishYoung ManBloodyAvoided
Book:Honor: Samurai Philosophy of Life - The Essential Samurai Collection; The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai, Bushido: The Soul of Japan.
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“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.”

MenLifeSaidRealBigsAttentionWindowDiedAffectionChinaDragonsSpokesClothingsReal ThingsFrightFurnishingsDeep Affection
Book:Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai
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“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.”

PeopleMenMindPersonsDoeReasonTruthCareLife IsLossDealsSpeechGainsGreedWitCowardiceScholarCalculationsCalculating
Book:Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai
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