“It is easy to surpass a predecessor, but difficult to avoid being surpassed by a successor.”

“See, see how the sun has moved onward while we talked. Nothing can stop it in its course. Prayers cannot halt the revolving of nature. It is the same with human life. Victory and defeat are one in the vast stream of life. Victory is the beginning of defeat, and who can rest safely in victory? Impermanence is the nature of all things of this world. Even you will find your ill fortunes too will change. It is easy to understand the impatience of the old, whose days are numbered, but why should you young ones fret when the future is yours?”

“Seorang samurai tidak bekerja sekadar untuk mengisi perut. Dia bukan budak makanan. Dia hidup untuk memenuhi panggilannya, untuk kewajiban dan pengabdian. Makanan hanyalah tambahan, sebuah berkah dari surga. Jangan menjadi laki-laki yang, karena terlalu sibuk mencari makan, menghabiskan hidupnya dalam kebimbangan.”

“Menurut satu aliran pemikiran, jika seseorang menguasai satu keterampilan, dia telah menguasai seluruh ilmu. Ilmu bela diri bukan jurus-jurus belaka-- ilmu bela diri menyangkut kematangan jiwa. Jika seseorang mengolah jiwanya dengan sungguh-sungguh, orang itu mampu menguasai segala sesuatu, termasuk seni belajar dan pemerintahan. Dia memandang dunia apa adanya, dan sanggup menilai orang.”

“bukan sekadar membaca, tetapi mempertemukan antara satu buku dengan yang lain, mempertemukan mereka dengan realitas lalu menemukan sintesis dan membuat tulisan kita sendiri.”

“It was only leaves and branches.”

“Lord Karasumaru considered it a grave mistake on the part of the gods tohave made a man like himself a nobleman. And, though a servant of theEmperor, he saw only two paths open to him: to live in constant misery orto spend his time carousing. The sensible choice was to rest his headon the knees of a beautiful woman, admire the pale light of the moon,view the cherry blossoms in season and die with a cup of sake in his hand. ”