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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.

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
Cutting
Head
War
Action
Able
Even
Certainty
Suddenly

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When someone is giving you his opinion, you should receive it with deep gratitude even though it is worthless. If you don't, he will not tell you the things that he has seen and heard about you again.
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If one thinks only of winning, a sordid victory will be worse than a defeat. For the most part, it becomes a squalid defeat.
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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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Purity is something that cannot be attained except by piling effort upon effort.
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To give a person an opinion one must first judge well whether that person is of the disposition to receive it or not.
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All abilities come from one mind
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Looking comparatively at the good things, you will see that they are not excluded from wisdom, humanity and bravery.
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Light matters should be dealt with seriously. Serious matters should be dealt with lightly.
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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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To desire with one’s very soul every second of every day to accomplish one’s aim.
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Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier of usefulness.
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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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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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An affected laugh shows lack of self-respect in a man and lewdness in a woman. It is carelessness to go about with one's hands inside the slits in the sides of his hakama.
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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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Covetousness, anger and foolishness are things to sort out well. When bad things happen in the world, if you look at them comparatively, they are not unrelated to these three things.
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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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Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were somewhere else.
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There are few people who will make mistakes with fire after having once been burned.
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Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.
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