Samurai quotes and proverbs

The warrior doesn't care if he's called a beast or a dog; the main thing is winning.
-Asakura Norikage

By the Way of the warrior is meant death. The Way of the warrior is death. This means choosing death whenever there is a choice between life and death. It means nothing more than this. It means to see things through, being resolved.
-Yamamoto Tsunetomo

To be made fun of and remain silent is cowardice. There is no reason to overlook this fact because one is within the palace. A man who makes fun of people is himself a fool. It was his own fault for being cut down.
- Lord Naoshige

A samurai should always be prepared for death - whether his own or someone else's
-Stan Sakai

A samurai, even when he has not eaten, uses his toothpick.

To know and to act are one and the same.


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.
-Hojo Shigetoki

Intelligence is the flower of discrimination. There are many examples of the flower blooming but not bearing fruit.
-Nabeshima Naoshige

One who is samurai must, before all things, keep constantly in mind , by day and by night....that he has to die
-Daidoji Yuzan

The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life.
- Katsumodo (Last Samurai movie)

Those who cling to life, die; those who defy death, live.

For a Samurai to be brave, he must have a bit of Black blood.

Give me fish I eat for a day…Teach me how to fish and I eat for a lifetime

Punished is not the man himself, but the evil that resides within him

When thy hand goes fourth, stay thy anger. When thy anger goes fourth, stay thy hand.

The sword that strikes down evil is the sword that gives life

Action without vision is a nightmare

Among flowers, the cherry blossom; Among men, the samurai.