Samurai Quotes

“I want to lead an important life. I want to do it because I was born a human being.”
― Eiji Yoshikawa, Musashi

“The suspicious mind conjures its own demons.”
― Hanshiro Tsugomu

“The true meaning of the 'samurai' is one who serves and adheres to the power of love.”
― Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace

“In our modern world, we look unkindly on mistakes and imperfection. But this is far from the samurai ideal. Mistakes are part of the learning process and if you haven't made them then you are, indeed, dangerous because it means you have never learned anything. Mistakes, to a samurai, are the proof of your learning.”
― Alexei Maxim Russell, Instruction Manual for the 21st Century Samurai

“Being a samurai is all about selfless service and if the lord abuses the servant, it is no longer a situation of service; it becomes the situation of a victim. It is never acceptable for a samurai to be a victim. It is never acceptable to allow a lord to abuse you or rob you of your dignity. In such a situation, it is acceptable to walk away.”
― Alexei Maxim Russell, Instruction Manual for the 21st Century Samurai

“A samurai chooses to serve a master and does it out of respect and love, not because they are forced. Service to them is not demeaning; service is an expression of their prowess and their pride; they serve because only they are strong enough to serve with such flawless perfection and such consummate ability. It is a source of pride to them.”
― Alexei Maxim Russell, Instruction Manual for the 21st Century Samurai

“There is even rhythm in being empty.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“The sword has to be more than a simple weapon; it has to be an answer to life's questions.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy

“At the moment of victory, tighten the straps of your helmet.”
― Tokugawa Ieyasu

“If you are unaware that the world is teeming with ineptitude from the beginning, you will develop a bitter countenance, and in turn others will eschew you.”
― Tsunetomo Yamamoto

“A samurai was essentially a man of action.”
― Inazo Nitobe, Bushido, The Soul Of Japan

“Becoming the opponent means you should put yourself in an opponent's place and think from the opponent's point of view.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“«Like a fossil tree
From which we gather no flowers
Sad has been my life
Fated no fruit to produce.»

Death poem composed by Minamoto Yorimasa immediately before his act of seppuku in the Byodo-in temple of Uji.”
― Stephen Turnbull, Samurai: The Japanese Warrior's [Unofficial] Manual

“As you get the rhythm you discern how to win.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“What is essential is to suddenly make a move totally unexpected by the opponent, pick up on the advantage of fright, and seize the victory right then and there.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“The Samurai lived by a code of honor, not unlike the code that you live by. It’s called the Bushido. It was never written down; was always something the Samurai knew, and it was handed down from one warrior to another. One of the tenets of the code is about justice. Not the pounding of a gavel on the bench of some judge who’s been appointed to pass judgment on people by some politician. No, malaka, this concept of justice is what you feel in your bones: to die when it is right and to strike when it is right.”
― Kenneth Eade, An Evil Trade

“Life is like swordplay. Grip it, hold it tightly, then make your move.”
― Louis Edward Rosas, The Soldier and the Samurai

“Life in Japan, nowadays, is nothing like a Kurosawa movie, and only the contemptible Weeaboo thinks that it is. In order to be a whole, well-rounded Otaku, you need to be up on Japanese popular culture, as much as you may be up on anime, samurai philosophy or the canon of Square Enix games.”
― Alexei Maxim Russell, The Japanophile's Handbook

“Samurai are born to die.

Death is not a curse to be avoided -- but the natural end of all life. Death is not eternal . . . dishonor is.”
― Rick Remender, Tokyo Ghost, Vol. 1: Atomic Garden

“Honor knows no birthright.”
― Louis Edward Rosas, Hatamoto

“All these years! All this time with us -- have you learned nothing?!

You only live by the grace of our clan's tenet of forgiveness!

Your judgement is shit!

Rectitude is the bone that gives firmness and stature. Without decency, neither talent nor learning can make the human frame into a samurai.”
― Rick Remender, Tokyo Ghost, Vol. 1: Atomic Garden

“This is shaping up even worse than you anticipated. Still, you feel a measure of detachment, as if you had suffered everything already and this were just a flashback. You wish that you had paid more attention when a woman you met at Heartbreak told you about Zen meditation. Think of all of this as an illusion. She can't hurt you. Nothing can hurt the samurai wh enters combat fully resolved to die. You have already accepted the inevitability of termination, as they say. Still, you'd rather not have to sit through this.”
― Jay McInerney, Bright Lights, Big City

“In my school, no consideration is given to anything unreasonable; the heart of the matter is to use the power of the knowledge of martial arts to gain victory any way you can.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“In the world of old memories, there's room for visitors”
― Nobuhiro Watsuki, Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 06

“Los perros ladran en la distancia y los gallos anunciaban la llegada del nuevo día.”
― Lian Hearn, Grass for His Pillow

“Cuando era niño, solía llevar a casa animales del bosque (…) Nunca logré domesticarlos, porque lo único que querían, ciega e irracionalmente, era escapar.”
― Lian Hearn, Across the Nightingale Floor

“Mi padre no volverá a mirarme a la cara", pensó. "Apartará sus ojos de mí, incluso me estará dando muerte.”
― Lian Hearn, Grass for His Pillow

“Nunca antes había recordado aquel momento", pensó. "Y sin emitir sonido alguno murmuró, "¡Madre! ¡Madre!”
― Lian Hearn, Grass for His Pillow

“Nunca he matado a un hombre desarmado y nunca he asesinado por placer.”
― Lian Hearn, Grass for His Pillow

“Al igual que el río siempre está a la puerta, así está siempre el mundo de puertas afuera. Y es en ese mundo donde estamos obligados a vivir.”
― Lian Hearn, Grass for His Pillow