Quote

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.

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
Thing
Materials
Men
Duty
Proud
Contriving
Respect
Samurai
Young
Wretched
Today
Lacking
Self
Material
Heart
Hearts

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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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One should be wary of talking on end about such subjects as learning, morality or folklore in front of elders or people of rank. It is disagreeable to listen to.
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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.
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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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If a retainer will just think about what he is to do for the day at hand, he will be able to do anything. If it is a single day's work, one should be able to put up with it. Tomorrow, too is but a single day.
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One should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths.
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It is said that one should not hesitate to correct himself when he has made a mistake. If he corrects himself without the least bit of delay, his mistakes will disappear.
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It is a good viewpoint to see the world as a dream. When you have something like a nightmare, you will wake up and tell yourself that it was only a dream. It is said that the world we live in is not a bit different from this.
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The person who practices an art is an artist, not a samurai, and one should have the intention of being called a samurai.
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By bringing shame to a person, how could one expect to make him a better man?
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Be true to the thought of the moment and avoid distraction. Other than continuing to exert yourself, enter into nothing else, but go to the extent of living single thought by single thought.
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By inconsistency and frivolity we stray from the Way and show ourselves to be beginners. In this we do much harm.
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The basic meaning of etiquette is to be quick at both the beginning and end and tranquil in the middle.
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It is difficult for a fool's habits to change to selflessness.
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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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Light matters should be dealt with seriously. Serious matters should be dealt with lightly.
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Purity is something that cannot be attained except by piling effort upon effort.
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