Skip to content

Yamamoto Tsunetomo Quotes

1659–1719 Japan

Yamamoto Tsunetomo (12 June 1659 – 1719) was a samurai of the Saga Domain in Hizen Province under his lord Nabeshima Mitsushige. He was famous for his sayings in Hagakure [In the Shadow of Leaves], a controversial exposition of his views on Bushido (the "Way of the Warrior").

Japan
Martial artists
Philosophers

Also known as: Hagakure

Random Yamamoto Tsunetomo quote

42 quotes

All of man's work is a bloody business. That fact, today, is considered foolish, affairs are finished cleverly with words alone, and jobs that require effort are avoided. I would like young men to have some understanding of this.

Hagakure (1716)

When pressed with the choice of life or death, it is not necessary to gain one's aim.
We all want to live. And in large part we make our logic according to what we like. But not having attained our aim and continuing to live is cowardice.

Hagakure (1716)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Yamamoto Tsunetomo (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.