Even if one's head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty.

I have found that the Way of the samurai is death. This means that when you are compelled to choose between life and death, you must quickly choose death.

There is one transcending level, and this is the most excellent of all. This person is aware of the endlessness of entering deeply into a certain Way and never thinks of himself as having finished.

One should be wary of talking on end about such subjects as learning, morality or folklore in front of elders or people of rank. It is disagreeable to listen to.

Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things that you like.

When someone is giving you his opinion, you should receive it with deep gratitude even though it is worthless. If you don't, he will not tell you the things that he has seen and heard about you again.

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.