The scarcity of years does not necessitate lack of wisdom.

What can I do to help thee?" he asked. "Believe there is a tomorrow.

Guard yourself and your conscience no one else will and know that a bad decision at the right time can destroy you far more surely than any bullet!

Of what real value is a title? The power is the only important thing

First the priests arrive. Then the conquistadores.

.., by universal custom, your enemy is never more polite than when he is planning or has planned your destruction.

How baffling it was that even the most cunning and clever people would frequently see only what they wanted to see, and would rarely look beyond the thinnest of facades. Or they would ignore reality, dismissing it as the facade. And then, when their whole world fell to pieces...they would tear their topknots or rend their clothes and bewail their karma, blaming gods or kami or luck or their lords or husbands or vassals-anything or anyone-but never themselves.