"One would like to leave behind a glorious reputation for surpassing wisdom and character, but careful reflection will show that what we mean by love of a glorious reputation is delight in the approbation of others. Neither those who praise nor those who abuse last for long, and the people who have heard their reports are like likely to depart the world as quickly. Before whom then should we feel ashamed? By whom should we wish to be appreciated? Fame, moreover inspires backbiting. It does no good whatsoever to have one's name survive. A craving after fame is next foolish."

"What a foolish thing it is to be governed by a desire for fame and profit and to fret away one's whole life without a moment of peace. Great wealth is no guarantee of security. Wealth, in fact, tends to attract calamities and disaster."

"In all things I yearn for the past. Modern fashions seem to keep on growing more and more debased. I find that even among the splendid pieces of furniture built by our master cabinetmakers, those in the old forms are the most pleasing."

"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."

"It is excellent for a man to be simple in his tastes, to avoid extravagance, to own no possessions, to entertain no craving for worldly success."

"If man were never to fade away like the dews of Adashino never to vanish like the smoke over Toribeyama, but lingered on forever in the world, how things would lose their power to move us! The most precious thing in life is its uncertainty. Consider living creatures — none lives so long a man. The May fly waits not for the evening, the summer cicada knows neither spring nor autumn. What a wonderfully unhurried feeling it is to live even even a single year in perfect serenity."

"One should write not unskilfully in the running hand, be able to sing in a pleasing voice and keep good time to music; and, lastly, a man should not refuse a little wine when pressed upon him."

"、日ぐらし硯に向ひて、心に移り行くよしなしごとを、そこはかとなく書きつくれば、怪しうこそ物狂ほしけれ。}}"

"Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home."

"The yellow rose petals—one by one—gone into roaring waterfalls"

"... the sparrow’s chirp, the crow’s caw, the willow’s green, the cherry blossom’s pink, are the truth of the Zen master and the essence of Basho's style."

"He who creates three to five haiku poems during a lifetime is a haiku poet. He who attains to completes ten is a master."

"The haiku that reveals seventy to eighty percent of its subject is good. Those that reveal fifty to sixty percent, we never tire of."

"My body, now close to fifty years of age, has become an old tree that bears bitter peaches, a snail which has lost its shell, a bagworm separated from its bag; it drifts with the winds and clouds that know no destination. Morning and night I have eaten traveler's fare, and have held out for alms a pilgrim's wallet."

"The fact that Saigyō composed the poem that begins, "I shall be unhappy without loneliness," shows that he made loneliness his master. He also wrote: In the mountain village who are you calling, yobuko-bird? I thought you lived alone."

"Mount Fuji, towering up from the earth, supporting the firmament so high above, seems to rend open the clouds that the sun and moon might shine through. Viewed from any position, the mountain seemingly presents its finest vista, infinitely changing. The poet is at a loss for suitable verses; the scholar finds his words lacking; the painter, throwing down his brushes, scurries off. Even if by chance an immortal should descend from Mount Miǎogūyè, would he be able to compose suitable verses, or paint a faithful picture?"

"It was a rainy day when I crossed over the Hakone Barrier, and all the mountains were veiled in clouds."

"It rains during the morning. No visitors today. I feel lonely and amuse myself by writing at random. These are the words: Who mourns makes grief his master. Who drinks makes pleasure his master."

"Even if you have three or four extra syllables—or as many as five or seven—you need not worry as long as the verse sounds right."

"I feel lonely as I gaze at the moon. I feel lonely as I think about myself, and I feel lonely as I ponder upon this wretched life of mine. I want to cry out that I am lonely, but no one asks me how I feel."

"古人の跡を求めず，古人の求めしところを求めよ。 kojin no ato wo motomezu, kozjin no motometaru tokoro wo motomeyo"

"Moon almost full I'm thirty-nine a child still."

"旅に病で夢は枯野をかけ廻る tabi ni yande yume wa kareno wo kake-meguru"

"やがて死ぬけしきは見えず蝉の声 yagate shinu keshiki wa miezu semi no koe"

"古池や蛙飛び込む水の音 furu ike ya kawazu tobikomu mizu no oto"

"京にても京なつかしや時鳥 kyou nitemo kyou natsukashi ya hototogisu"

"朝顔に我は飯食ふ男かな asagao ni ware wa meshi kû otoko kana"

"静けさや岩に滲み入る蝉の声 shizukesaya iwa ni shimiiru semi no koe"

"夏草や兵どもが夢の跡 natsukusa ya tsuwamonodomo ga yume no ato"

"行く春や鳥啼き魚の目は泪 yuku haru ya tori naki uo no me wa namida"

"Studying texts and stiff meditation can make you lose your Original Mind. A solitary tune by a fisherman, though, can be an invaluable treasure. Dusk rain on the river, the moon peeking in and out of the clouds; Elegant beyond words, he chants his songs night after night."

"His "mad" behavior was perhaps his way of disrupting the corrupt and feeble Zen he saw around him."

"Ikkyū Zenji is the most remarkable monk in the history of Japanese Buddhism, the only Japanese comparable to the great Chinese Zen masters."

"Having no destination, I am never lost."

"In all the kingdom southward From the center of the earth Where is he who understands my Zen? Should the master Kido himself appear He wouldn't be worth a worn-out cent."

"Eight inches strong, it is my favourite thing; If I'm alone at night, I embrace it fully - A beautiful woman hasn't touched it for ages. Within my fundoshi there is an entire universe!"

"It has the original mouth but remains wordless; It is surrounded by a magnificent mound of hair. Sentient beings can get completely lost in it But it is also the birthplace of all the Buddhas of the ten thousand worlds."

"South of Mount Sumeru Who understands my Zen? Call Master Kido over- He's not worth a cent."

"From the world of passions returning to the world of passions: There is a moment's pause. If it rains, let it rain, if the wind blows, let it blow."

"Natural, reckless, correct skill; Yesterday's clarity is today's stupidity The universe has dark and light, entrust oneself to change One time, shade the eyes and gaze afar at the road of heaven."

"The five attitudes are: Upper, Middle, Lower, Right Side, and Left Side. These are the five. Although attitude has these five dimensions, the one purpose of all of them is to cut the enemy. There are none but these five attitudes. Whatever attitude you are in, do not be conscious of making the attitude; think only of cutting."

"Never stray from the Way."

"You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour."

"Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help."

"Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age."

"Do not fear death."

"Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful."

"Do not act following customary beliefs"

"Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need."