The saying 'the arts aid the body' is for samurai of other regions. For samurai of the Nabeshima clan the arts bring ruin to the body.

To give a person an opinion one must first judge well whether that person is of the disposition to receive it or not.

A samurai will use a toothpick even though he has not eaten. Inside the skin of a dog, outside the hide of a tiger.

It is said that one should not hesitate to correct himself when he has made a mistake. If he corrects himself without the least bit of delay, his mistakes will disappear.

Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were somewhere else.

When confronted with two alternatives, life and death, one is to choose death without hesitation.

The end is important in all things.