Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Every line we've sourced
There is only this one moment. Moment on moment makes a life.
"端的只今の一念より外はこれなく候。一念々々と重ねて一生なり。"
Hagakure, Book 2, our translation from the Greek
Life is very short. Spend it doing what you love.
"人間一生は誠に纔の事なり。好いた事をして暮すべきなり。"
Hagakure, Book 2, our translation from the Greek
Life is a dream. Why spend it on what you hate?
"夢の間の世の中に、すかぬ事許りして苦を見て暮すは愚なることなり"
Hagakure, Book 2, our translation from the Greek
As for me, I like sleeping.
"我は寢る事が好きなり"
Hagakure, Book 2, our translation from the Greek
Caught in the rain? Running won't keep you dry. Accept getting wet.
"途中にて俄雨に逢ひて、濡れじとて道を急ぎ走り ... 濡るゝ事は替らざるなり ... 初より思ひあきらめて濡るゝ時、心に苦なし"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
In training, you are never done.
"決して成就といふ事はなきものなり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Die still thinking 'not enough', and you were a master.
"一生の間、不足不足と思ひて、死するところ、これを後より見て、卽ち成就の人と云ふなり。"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Better than yesterday. Better than today. Every day, for life.
"昨日よりは上手になり、今日よりは上手になりして、一生日々仕上ぐる事なり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
I don't know how to beat others. I know how to beat myself.
"人に勝つ道はしらず我に勝つ道を知りたり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Think lightly on big matters. Think hard on small ones.
"大事の思案は輕くすべし ... 小事の思案は重くすべし"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
We're all the same humans. Why fall behind anyone?
"同じ人間が誰に劣り申すべきや"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Training without huge self-belief goes nowhere.
"凡そ修行は、大高慢にてなければ役に立たず候"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Resolve that boils fast like a kettle cools fast like one.
"藥罐道心にて、さめ易き事あり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Inch forward, little by little, like an inchworm.
"少しづゝ先へ先へとにじり申すものに候 ... 尺蠖の樣に"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
No great work gets done in under twenty or thirty years.
"二十年三十年して仕果す事にならでは、大功は無きものなり。"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
The real fighter doesn't weigh win or loss. He goes all in.
"曲者といふは勝負を考へず、無二無三に死狂ひする計りなり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
You don't know what today brings. Prepare day and night.
"武道は今日の事も知らずと思ひて、日々夜々に箇條を立てゝ吟味すべき事なり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Say in one word what others say in ten.
"十言を一言で濟ます樣にと心掛け"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Make up your mind within seven breaths.
"七息思案と云ふことあり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Think too long and your judgment goes stale.
"分別も久しくすればねまる"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Settle with death each morning, and you move freely.
"每朝、每夕、改めては死ぬ死ぬと、常住死身になりて居る時は、武道に自由を得"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
The warrior's way is found in dying.
"武士道といふことは、卽ち死ぬ事と見附けたり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Keep the main line straight, and you can improvise the details.
"本筋をさへ立てはづさぬ樣にすれば、枝葉の內、飛手をも、案外の事をも爲して苦しからざるなり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
The middle way is wise. In competition, aim past everyone.
"中道は物の至極なれども、武邊は、平生にも人に乘越えたる心にてなくては成るまじく候"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek
Even with his head cut off, a fighter can do one more deed.
"首打落させてより、一働きはしかとするものなり"
Hagakure, Book 1, our translation from the Greek