Quote

The basic meaning of etiquette is to be quick at both the beginning and end and tranquil in the middle.

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
Ends
Etiquette
Tranquil
Quick
Basic
Beginning
Meaning
Middle
War

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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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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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When one is writing a letter, he should think that the recipient will make it into a hanging scroll.
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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 way of the Samurai is found in death.
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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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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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Purity is something that cannot be attained except by piling effort upon effort.
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The deepest love is often hidden.
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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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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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Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things that you like.
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There is nothing we should be quite so grateful for as the last line of the poem that goes, 'When your own heart asks.
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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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Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.
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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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The end is important in all things.
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Sincerity does not only complete the self it is the means by which all things are completed. As the self is completed, there is human-heartedness as things are completed, there is wisdom. This is the virtue of one’s character, and the Way of joining the internal and external. Thus, when we use this, everything is correct.
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There are few people who will make mistakes with fire after having once been burned.
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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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