Settle with death each morning, and you move freely.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
Samurai quotes
Musashi's Book of Five Rings and the Hagakure from the Japanese, and Nitobe's Bushido in his own 1900 English.
- See far things as near and near things as far.Miyamoto Musashi
- There is only this one moment. Moment on moment makes a life.Yamamoto Tsunetomo
- A life has many crossings. Make them like a good captain.Miyamoto Musashi
- Make up your mind within seven breaths.Yamamoto Tsunetomo
- From one thing, know ten thousand.Miyamoto Musashi
- A thousand days of practice forge you. Ten thousand refine you.Miyamoto Musashi
- Don't scheme for your own comfort.Miyamoto Musashi
- Twice, maybe. Never the same move three times.Miyamoto Musashi
- Real endurance is bearing what you think you can't.Nitobe Inazo
- Respect the gods. Don't lean on them.Miyamoto Musashi
- Pay attention even to small things.Miyamoto Musashi
- Calm is courage at rest.Nitobe Inazo
All 71
71 lines
Perceive strongly. Look lightly.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Water (The Gaze)
Train so your skill works at any moment.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Way of Strategy)
Die still thinking 'not enough', and you were a master.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
The middle way is wise. In competition, aim past everyone.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
Courage means doing what's right.
Nitobe Inazo, Bushido, ch. 4 (Courage, the Spirit of Daring and Bearing)
Too much is the same as too little.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Earth (Knowing Your Weapons)
Morning after morning, hour after hour, polish your mind.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Void
In training, you are never done.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
七息思案
Make up your mind within seven breaths.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
When they start to crack, don't let the moment slip.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Fire (Knowing Collapse)
Do nothing that serves no purpose.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Nine Principles)
Think too long and your judgment goes stale.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
Training without huge self-belief goes nowhere.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
The real fighter doesn't weigh win or loss. He goes all in.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
Masters look unhurried, yet never miss a beat.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Wind (Speed in Other Schools)
Respect the gods. Don't lean on them.
Miyamoto Musashi, Dokkodo 18
Water fits any vessel. A single drop, a whole ocean.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Five Scrolls)
Nitobe Inazo, Bushido, ch. 4 (Courage, the Spirit of Daring and Bearing)
Don't copy anyone. Pick gear that fits your own hand.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Earth (Knowing Your Weapons)
Don't scheme for your own comfort.
Miyamoto Musashi, Dokkodo 3
Inch forward, little by little, like an inchworm.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, Book 1
Pay attention even to small things.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Nine Principles)
A samurai's word needs no paper.
Nitobe Inazo, Bushido, ch. 7 (Veracity or Truthfulness)
Questions
- Where do these samurai quotes come from?
- Each of the 71 lines links to its own page with the book and passage it comes from, the original-language wording and how it was translated. Nothing is attributed without a source.