Top 26 Quotes & Sayings by Famous Samurais

Good medicine is bitter to the mouth, but has an effect on the disease. Faithful words hurt one's ears, but have value for one's conduct.

A man who has been born into the house of a warrior and yet places no loyalty in his heart and thinks only of the fortune of his position will be flattering on the surface and construct schemes in his heart, will forsake righteousness and not reflect on his shame, and will stain the warrior's name of his household to later generations. This is truly regrettable.

Honour may not win power, but it wins respect. And respect earns power.

If one will fix his heart in such a way and assist the world and its people, he will have the devotion of the men who see and hear him.

Revenge is never a straight line. It's a forest, and like a forest it's easy to lose your way … to get lost … to forget where you came in.

One finds life through conquering the fear of death within one's mind. Empty the mind of all forms of attachment, make a go-for-broke charge and conquer the opponent with one decisive slash.

The Way of Tea lies in studying the ceremony, in understanding the principles, and in grasping the reality of things. These are its three rules.

When one is serving his master, he should exert himself.

Honour always wins, it is inevitable.

One must not be negligent in learning. In the Lun Yu it says: "To study and not to think is darkness. To think without study is dangerous."

One should have insight into this world of dreams that passes in the twinkling of an eye.

Revenge is never a straight line.

I should stop expecting so much.

He who cannot overcome his own demons could never defeat another

One should not utter a word about his own inadequacies. In the Oxo it says: 'When a man lets out a single word, the long and short of him will be known.'

If on your journey you should encounter GOD, GOD will be cut

One must never be perfidious to his master. In the Lun Yu it says: One should act according to the way even in times of haste. One should act according to the way even in times of danger. It says further: 'When one is serving his master, he should exert himself.'

The foundation of a man's duty as a man is in truth. Beyond this there is nothing to be said.

How can a man commit acts of martial valour if he values his life?

In the Wu Tzu it says: 'He who would save his life shall lose it, and he who would give up his life shall save it.'

It is truly regrettable that a person will treat a man who is valuable to him well, and a man who is worthless to him poorly.

I will stand off the forces of the entire country here... and die a resplendent death.

The man who hunts a deer does not gaze at the mountains.

One's soldier should not abuse the enemy. 'Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.

When one would make a surprise attack on the enemy, he should avoid the major roads and seek out the lesser ones. Then attack.

If you will take it into your mind to be sincere in throwing away your life for your master, you will not have the slightest fear or trembling even with the advent of innumerable impending calamities.