Yamamoto Tsunetomo Quotes on Virtue
Yamamoto Tsunetomo was a Japanese samurai and philosopher of the early Edo period, a retainer of the Saga domain who, on the death of his lord in 1700, was forbidden by Tokugawa law from following him in death and instead retired to a hermitage to dictate the long oral memoir that became Hagakure, In the Shadow of the Leaves. This page collects quotes attributed to Yamamoto Tsunetomo on the topic of virtue, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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Attributed to Yamamoto Tsunetomo:
“The way of the samurai is found in death.”
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“Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily.”
Hagakure -
Attributed to Yamamoto Tsunetomo:
“There is something to be learned from a rainstorm; if one has no umbrella, one is going to get wet, and that is that.”
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Attributed to Yamamoto Tsunetomo:
“Matters of importance should be undertaken lightly; matters of small importance should be undertaken seriously.”
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Attributed to Yamamoto Tsunetomo:
“When you cannot decide between two courses, choose the harder.”