For my eightieth year warns me to pack up my baggage before I leave life.
Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were somewhere else.
When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it will not do to think about going at it in a long roundabout way. One's heart may slacken, he may miss his chance, and by and large there will be no success. The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy, and it is best to dash in headlong.
Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier of usefulness.
It is said that what is called "the spirit of an age" is something to which one cannot return. That this spirit gradually dissipates is due to the world's coming to an end. For this reason, although one would like to change today's world back to the spirit of one hundred years or more ago, it cannot be done. Thus it is important to make the best out of every generation.
Covetousness, anger and foolishness are things to sort out well. When bad things happen in the world, if you look at them comparatively, they are not unrelated to these three things.
Looking comparatively at the good things, you will see that they are not excluded from wisdom, humanity and bravery.
Hard work is always hard work, for young gymnasts and old gymnasts. Whoever can handle this will be a champion.
I love what I think, and I'm never tempted to believe it.
I grew up in a house of forthright women.
Life is a story. Why do we die? Because we live. Why do we live? Because our Maker opened His mouth and began to tell a story.