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.

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

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

What you do with strangers is ignore them for. No second chance, no sorry I did it, never accept an apology, but never, ever get angry with strangers.

You never know . . . that's what makes life interesting.

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

What are clouds, but an excuse for the sky? What is life, but an escape from death?