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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.

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
Case
Civilization
Choose
Choices
Death
Bushido
Mean
Realised
Life
Reasoning
Presence

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Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.
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Purity is something that cannot be attained except by piling effort upon effort.
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I have found that the Way of the samurai is death. This means that when you are compelled to choose between life and death, you must quickly choose death.
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A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death.
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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.
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It is difficult for a fool's habits to change to selflessness.
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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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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.
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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.
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Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things that you like.
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As long as people overlook matters, then inferiors can, without any fear, lead an easy and peaceful life.
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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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A warrior is worthless unless he rises above others and stands strong in the midst of a storm.
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There is one transcending level, and this is the most excellent of all. This person is aware of the endlessness of entering deeply into a certain Way and never thinks of himself as having finished.
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Tether even a roasted chicken.
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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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Not to borrow the strength of another, nor to rely on one's own strength to cut off past and future thoughts, and not to live within the everyday mind... then the Great Way is right before your eyes.
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It is better to have some unhappiness while one is still young, for if a person does not experience some bitterness, his disposition will not settle down.
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When confronted with two alternatives, life and death, one is to choose death without hesitation.
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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.
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