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.

Purity is something that cannot be attained except by piling effort upon effort.

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.

This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai: if by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. his whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.

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

The person who practices an art is an artist, not a samurai, and one should have the intention of being called a samurai.

It is difficult for a fool's habits to change to selflessness.