RYŌMA!: The Life of Sakamoto Ryoma: Japanese Swordsman and Visionary Volume II

by Ryōtarō Shiba

Ryōma never argued. He always told himself he mustn’t get into an argument unless it was about something of earthshaking importance. Even if he were to win, he would only succeed in dishonoring his opponent. Besides, losing an argument rarely leads people to change their opinions, much less their ways of life, so in the end, all that would be left was resentment at having lost.

The rank and status that seem so important in our world are all on the outside—just decoration. And people only pay attention to decoration in peaceful times. When there’s trouble brewing that fancy stuff on the outside peels right off.

“Following the correct path doesn’t necessarily mean holding with beliefs that are most popular in a particular time.