Calculating people are contemptable. The reason for this is that calculation deals with loss and gain, and the loss and gain mind never stops. Death is considered loss and life is considered gain. Thus, death is something that such a person does not care for, and he is contemptable. Furthermore, scholars and their like are men who with wit and speech hide their own true cowardice and greed. People often misjudge this.

Nothing is impossible in this world. Firm determination, it is said, can move heaven and earth. Things appear far beyond one's power, because one cannot set his heart on any arduous project due to want of strong will.

When one is writing a letter, he should think that the recipient will make it into a hanging scroll.

Bushido is realised in the presence of death. In the case of having to choose between life and death you should choose death. There is no other reasoning.

By bringing shame to a person, how could one expect to make him a better man?

If one thinks only of winning, a sordid victory will be worse than a defeat. For the most part, it becomes a squalid defeat.

It is better to have some unhappiness while one is still young, for if a person does not experience some bitterness, his disposition will not settle down.