it is easy to surpass a predecessor, but difficult to avoid being surpassed by a successor. Eiji Yoshikawa More Quotes by Eiji Yoshikawa More Quotes From Eiji Yoshikawa Monks transgress the Laws of the Buddha, stir up the common people, store wealth and weapons, and spread rumors; under the guise of religion, they are nothing more than self-serving agitators. Eiji Yoshikawa self law people The world is a stone wall ... and they have put the stones so close together that there is not a single crack through which one may enter. Eiji Yoshikawa cracks wall together Beyond the shadow of a doubt, food was more important than a woman's suffering. Eiji Yoshikawa shadow suffering doubt The bitter winds in February were sometimes called the First East Winds, but the longing for spring somehow made them seem more piercing. Eiji Yoshikawa east spring wind If a man wanted to put the entire universe in his breast, he couldn't do it with his chest stuck out. Eiji Yoshikawa breasts stuck men A wise man who cultivates wisdom may sometimes drown in it. Eiji Yoshikawa wisdom wise men The truth of the scholar, alone in his study, does not always accord with what the world at large considers to be true. Eiji Yoshikawa truth doe world Think what you like. There are people who die by remaining alive and others who gain life by dying. Eiji Yoshikawa dying people thinking Oh, you crows! Feast away! What a spread! Soup straight from the eye sockets! And thick red sake! But don't have too much Or you'll surely get drunk. Eiji Yoshikawa crow drunk eye To Kiyomori each stall, each soul here seemed borne under by the crushing weight of the world; everyone here was a pitiful weed, trodden underfoot -- a conglomeration of human lives putting down roots in this slime, living and letting live in the struggle to survive; and he was stirred by the fearful and magnificent courage communicated by the scene. Eiji Yoshikawa crush weed struggle Love was like a toothache. Eiji Yoshikawa toothache People tend to be put off by the idea of selling sex, but if you spend a winter's night with one of them and talk with her about her family and so on, you're likely to find she's just like any other woman. Eiji Yoshikawa winter night sex It does happen, of course, that the priesthood has been on bad terms with womankind for some three thousand years. You see, Buddhism teaches that women are evil. Fiends. Messengers of hell. I've spent years immersed in the scriptures, so it's no accident that you and I fight all the time. Eiji Yoshikawa buddhism fighting years Don't yield! Keep up your courage! The same sun looks down on all of us! Eiji Yoshikawa yield sun looks The world is always full of the sound of waves. Eiji Yoshikawa sea play heart To the courtiers flushed with wine, life was pleasure, and pleasure life. Eiji Yoshikawa courtiers pleasure wine Hold on to your life and make it honest and brave. Eiji Yoshikawa honest brave
