James Clavell > Quotes

“Leave the problems of God to God and karma to karma. Today you're here and nothing you do will change that. Today you are alive and here and honored and blessed with good fortune. Look at this suset, it's beautiful, neh? This sunset exists. Tomorrow does not exist. There is only now. Please look. It is so beautiful and it will never happen ever again, never, not this sunset, never in all infinity. Lose yourself in it, make yourself one with nature and do not worry about karma, yours, mine, or that of the village.”
― James Clavell

“Karma is the beginning of knowledge. Next is patience. Patience is very important. The strong are the patient ones, Anjin-san. patience means holding back your inclination to the seven emotions: hate, adoration, joy, anxiety, anger, grief, fear. If you don't give way to the seven, you're patient, then you'll soon understand all manner of things and be in harmony with Eternity.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Always remember, child" her first teacher had impressed on her, "that to think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral you down into ever-increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that need disipline –training- is about. So train your mind to dwell on sweet perfumes, the touch of this silk, tender raindrops against the shoji, the curve of the flower arrangement, the tranquillity of dawn. Then, at length, you won't have to make such a great effort and you will be of value to yourself,…”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“The scarcity of years does not necessitate lack of wisdom.”
― James Clavell

“How beautiful life is and how sad! How fleeting, with no past and no future, only a limitless now.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“.., by universal custom, your enemy is never more polite than when he is planning or has planned your destruction.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Isn’t it only through laughter that we become one with the gods and thus can endure life and can overcome all the horror and waste and suffering here on earth? …Isn’t it only through laughter we can stay human?”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“And Adam ruled, for he was the King. Until the day his will to be King deserted him. Then he died, food for a stronger. And the strongest was always the King, not by strength alone, but King by cunning and luck and strength together. Among the rats.”
― James Clavell, King Rat

“There is no dignity for either the sufferer or the torturer”
― James Clavell, Shogun

“It's a saying they have, that a man has a false heart in his mouth for the world to see, another in his breast to show to his special friends and his family, and the real one, the true one, the secret one, which is never known to anyone except to himself alone, hidden only God knows where.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“First the priests arrive. Then the conquistadores.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Only by living at the edge of death can you understand the indescribable joy of life - Shogun.”
― James Clavell

“To think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral down into ever increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline and training is all about.”
― James Clavell

“What are clouds, but an excuse for the sky? What is life, but an escape from death?”
― James Clavell

“Of what real value is a title? The power is the only important thing”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Isn't it only laughter we can stay human?”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Wars are fought by teenagers, you realize that. They really ought to be fought by the politicians and old people who start these wars." (Interview with Don Swaim of CBS Radio-1986)”
― James Clavell

“Patience means restraining yourself. There are seven emotions, Joy, anger, anxiety, adoration, grief, fear, and hate. If a man doesn't give way to these, he's patient. I'm not as strong as I might be but I'm patient.”
― James Clavell

“Horses are far worse than men for treachery...”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Isn't man but a blossom taken by wind, and only the mountains and the sea and the stars and this land of the gods everlasting?”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Още сега стани скала, в която вълните на живота ще се удрят напразно...”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“- Отново съм хванат на тясно. Каквото и да правя, някой все ще умре. А ако не науча езика ви, цяло едно село ще загине. Не правя ли каквото искате от мен, все някой невинен умира. Не виждам изход.
- Изходът е лесен, Анджин-сан. Умрете. Не сте длъжен да понасяте непоносимото.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Why is she afraid?" he asked. "She's not Anjin-san. Just a little nervous. Please excuse her. She's never seen a foreigner close to before." "Tell her when the moon's full, barbarians sprout horns and fire comes out of our mouths like dragons.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“What can I do to help thee?" he asked.
"Believe there is a tomorrow.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Oare ce-s nourii
Daca nu o justificare a cerului?
Oare ce-i viata
Daca nu o amanare a mortii?”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“Trupul nu-i decat o biata coliba pierduta in pustie.”
― James Clavell, Shōgun

“So sorry”
― James Clavell, Shōgun