If we lived forever, if the dews of Adashino never vanished, if the crematory smoke on Toribeyama never faded, men would hardly feel the pity of things. The beauty of life is in its impermanence. Man lives the longest of all living things... and even one year lived peacefully seems very long. Yet for such as love the world, a thousand years would fade like the dream of one night.

In everything, no matter what it may be, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete makes it interesting, and gives one the feeling that there is room for growth

Even members of the nobility, let alone persons of no consequence, would do well not to have children.

If life were eternal, all interest and anticipation would vanish. It is uncertainty which lends it fascination.

A certain recluse, I know not who, once said that no bonds attached him to this life, and the only thing he would regret leaving was the sky.

Leave undone whatever you hesitate to do.

... For such as truly love the world, a thousand years would fade like the dream of one night.