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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

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Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Age: 60 †
Born: 1659
Born: June 11
Died: 1719
Died: November 30
Bushi
Philosopher
Writer
Hizen Domain
Right
Contrary
Trivial
Important
Matters
Minor
Way
Expectations
Minors
Things
Foundation
Expectation
Wrong
Affairs
Found
Affair
Ends
Secure
Pained
Matter
Details
Departure

More quotes by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

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When delivering something like an important letter or other written materials, grasp it firmly in your hand as you go and do not release it once, but hand it over directly to the recipient.
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Bushido is realised in the presence of death. In the case of having to choose between life and death you should choose death. There is no other reasoning.
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By bringing shame to a person, how could one expect to make him a better man?
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If you are slain in battle, you should be resolved to have your corpse facing the enemy.
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There is not a man who does not get senile by the time he reaches sixty. And when one thinks that he will not be senile, he is already so.
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There are few people who will make mistakes with fire after having once been burned.
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The heart of a virtuous person has settled down and he does not rush about at things. A person of little merit is not at peace but walks about making trouble and is in conflict with all.
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The saying 'the arts aid the body' is for samurai of other regions. For samurai of the Nabeshima clan the arts bring ruin to the body.
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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.
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It is bad when one thing becomes two. One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. If one understands things in this manner, he should be able to hear about all Ways and be more and more in accord with his own.
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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.
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It is difficult for a fool's habits to change to selflessness.
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Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were somewhere else.
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A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.
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One should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths.
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A warrior should not say something fainthearted, even casually. He should set his mind to this beforehand. Even in trifling matters the depths of one's heart can be seen.
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A samurai will use a toothpick even though he has not eaten. Inside the skin of a dog, outside the hide of a tiger.
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By being impatient, matters are damaged and great works cannot be done
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The way of the Samurai is found in death.
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Even if one's head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty.
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