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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.

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
Use
Tigers
War
Hide
Even
Skin
Skins
Toothpick
Dog
Toothpicks
Outside
Samurai
Inside
Tiger
Though
Eaten

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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.
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To desire with one’s very soul every second of every day to accomplish one’s aim.
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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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There are few people who will make mistakes with fire after having once been burned.
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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.
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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.
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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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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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A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death.
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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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If you are slain in battle, you should be resolved to have your corpse facing the enemy.
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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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As everything in this world is but a sham, Death is the only sincerity.
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Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.
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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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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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As long as people overlook matters, then inferiors can, without any fear, lead an easy and peaceful life.
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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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