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

There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you will still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

wisdom running life

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

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

storm stay-strong warrior

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

judging giving firsts

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.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

buddhist men life

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

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

human-life affair life-is

Tether even a roasted chicken.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

chickens

It is not good to settle into a set of opinions. It is a mistake to put forth effort and obtain some understanding and then stop at that. At first putting forth great effort to be sure that you have grasped the basics, then practicing so that they may come to fruition is something that will never stop for your whole lifetime. Do not rely on following the degree of understanding that you have discovered, but simply think, "This is not enough."

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

mistake life thinking

Light matters should be dealt with seriously. Serious matters should be dealt with lightly.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

serious light matter

If a warrior is not unattached to life and death, he will be of no use whatsoever. The saying that “All abilities come from one mind” sounds as though it has to do with sentient matters, but it is in fact a matter of being unattached to life and death. With such non-attachment one can accomplish any feat.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

warrior life-and-death attachment

Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one’s body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one’s master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

inevitable-death earthquakes fall

Go ahead and gamble a lie. A person who will not tell you seven lies within a hundred yards is useless as a man.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

men war lying

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

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

impatient done matter

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

strong determination moving

Even if it seems certain that you will lose, retaliate. Neither wisdom nor technique has a place in this. A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. By doing this, you will awaken from your dreams.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

real dream men

Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were somewhere else.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

moments somewhere-else looks

In the eyes of mercy, no one should have hateful thoughts. Feel pity for the man who is even more at fault. The area and size of mercy is limitless.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

eye men war

The end is important in all things.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

important ends war

This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai: 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. his whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

calling heart morning

The Four Oaths: Never be late with respect to the way of the warrior; be useful to the lord; be respectful to your parents; get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of man.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

grief men war

A samurai will use a toothpick even though he has not eaten. Inside the skin of a dog, outside the hide of a tiger.

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

skins dog war