If a retainer will just think about what he is to do for the day at hand, he will be able to do anything. If it is a single day's work, one should be able to put up with it. Tomorrow, too is but a single day.

Go ahead and gamble a lie. A person who will not tell you seven lies within a hundred yards is useless as a man.

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

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

One should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths.

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.

Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier of usefulness.