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.

Sincerity does not only complete the self; it is the means by which all things are completed. As the self is completed, there is human-heartedness; as things are completed, there is wisdom. This is the virtue of one’s character, and the Way of joining the internal and external. Thus, when we use this, everything is correct.

A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death.

If you are slain in battle, you should be resolved to have your corpse facing the enemy.

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

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

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.