Total War: Shogun 2

"He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces."

"He who is prudent, and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious."

"Encourage and listen well to the words of your subordinates. It is well known that gold lies hidden underground."

"You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well."

"When delivering something like an important letter or other written materials, grasp it firmly in your hand as you go and do not release it once, but hand it over directly to the recipient."

"Dripping morning dew; mimics the blood from a blade; it does not wake me."

"People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void. It is bewilderment."

"By inconsistency and frivolity we stray from the Way and show ourselves to be beginners. In this we do much harm."

"Learning is to a man as the leaves and branches are to a tree, and it can be said that he should simply not be without it."

"The crane soars higher; its wings brush cherry blossom; my soul flies with it."

"Also by training you will be able to freely control your own body, conquer men with your body, and with sufficient training you will be able to beat ten men with your spirit. When you have reached this point, will it not mean that you are invincible?"

"Men with discrimination will be viewed as schemers; second, men with deep far-sightedness will be seen as cowards; and third, men with rough behaviour will be mistaken for real warriors."

"When all your judgements are based on your own wisdom, you tend towards selfishness and fail by straying from the right path."

"It is better not to become acquainted with men about whom you have formerly had doubts. No matter what you do, they will be people by whom you will be tripped up or taken in."

"In the ponds cool depths; the happy frog plays in spring; his life, a slow game."

"Heat haze of summer; obscures a man’s path ahead; an unclear future."

"The saying 'the arts aid the body' is for samurai of other regions. For samurai of the Nabeshima clan the arts bring ruin to the body."

"In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence, principle has existence, the way has existence, spirit is nothingness."

"The death of blossoms; is not something to grieve on; but the way of things."

"If there is a Way involving the spirit of not being defeated, to help oneself and gain honour, it is the Way of Strategy."

"The best use of the companion sword is in a confined space, or when you are engaged closely with an opponent. The long sword can be used effectively in all situations."

"Summer insects buzz; over new fragrant flowers; and fallen soldiers."

"Autumn trees shed leaves; skinning the tree one by one; until it is bare."

"As everything in this world is but a sham. Death is the only sincerity."

"One should not turn his back on reproof. In the words of the ancients: "Good medicine is bitter to the mouth, but has an effect on the disease. Faithful words hurt one's ears, but have value for one's conduct."

"I fall on my blade; crimson blossoms seed the earth; the spring buds drink deep."

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

"The halberd is inferior to the spear on the battlefield. With the spear you can take the initiative, the halberd is defensive."

"When the enemy starts to collapse you must pursue him without the chance of letting go. If you fail to take advantage of your enemies collapse, they may recover."

"The arts of peace and the arts of war are like two wheels of a cart which, lacking one, will have difficulty in standing."

"The old carp is wise; he whispers his dark secrets; only the wind hears."

"My eyes grow heavy; as blackened storm clouds grow near; engulfing the sun."

"It is also said that: "The man who hunts a deer does not gaze at the mountains."

"I do not strive for my salvation with weapons but with patience and humility, in accordance with the doctrine of Jesus Christ."

"Cunning tanuki; he preys upon my humble soul; I have no defence."

"When one would make a surprise attack on the enemy, he should avoid the major roads and seek out the lesser ones. Then attack."

"Although I greet death; I do not fear its icy grip; my soul is at peace."

"From inside fortifications, the gun has no equal among weapons. It is the supreme weapon on the field before the ranks clash, but once swords are crossed the gun becomes useless."

"It is a wretched thing that the young men today are so contriving and so proud of their material possessions. Men with contriving hearts are lacking in duty. Lacking in duty, they will have no self-respect."

"Willows slowly stoop; preparing to meet the ground; as autumn arrives."

"The dark tiger stalks; my soul quivers in the air; just for a moment."

"When you cannot be deceived by men you will have realised the wisdom of strategy."

"A doll floats downstream; carrying with it prayers; spring has come at last."

"Fourthly, the way of the artisan. The way of the carpenter is to become proficient in the use of his tools, first to lay his plans with true measure and then perform his work according to plan. Thus he passes through life."

"In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased."

"Raindrops on the lake; a universe of ripples; centre touching all."

"When you decide to attack, keep calm and dash in quickly, forestalling the enemy. Or you can advance seemingly strongly but with a reserved spirit, forestalling him in advance."

"The people of the various provinces are strictly forbidden to have in their possession any swords, short swords, bows, spears, firearms, or other types of arms."

"When something out of the ordinary happens, it is ridiculous to say that it is a mystery or a portent of something to come….the mystery is created in (their) minds, and by waiting for disaster, it is from their very minds that it occurs."

"A samurai with no group and no horse is not a samurai at all."