Tsunetomo Yamamoto
5 quotes
Biography
Yamamoto Tsunetomo , Buddhist monastic name Yamamoto Jōchō, was a samurai of the Saga Domain in Hizen Province under his lord Nabeshima Mitsushige. He became a Zen Buddhist priest and relayed his experiences, memories, lessons, ideas, and aphorisms to the samurai Tashiro Tsuramoto, who compiled them under the title Hagakure.
"Bushido is realized in the presence of death. This means choosing death whenever there is a choice between life and death. There is no other reasoning."
"In the Kamigata area, they have a sort of tiered lunchbox they use for a single day when flower viewing. Upon returning, they throw them away, trampling them underfoot. The end is important in all things."
"Personally, I like to sleep. And I intend to appropriately confine myself more and more to my living quarters and pass my life away sleeping."
"One should every day think over and make an effort to implant in his mind the saying, "At that time is right now." It is said that it is strange indeed that anyone is able to pass through life by one means or another in negligence."
"Throughout your life advance daily, becoming more skillful than yesterday, more skillful than today. This is never-ending."