"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."

"I grow old and hunch; as gnarled branches turn downwards; returning to roots."

"Sheltering cherry; my last breath stirs your blossom; my soul ascends. Meh."

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

"To die by the sword; no finer honour exists; winter’s grip awaits."

"A man whose profession is the use of arms should think and then act upon not only his fame, but also that of his descendants. He should not scandalise his name forever by holding his one and only life too dear."

"Fish break the surface; and a reflection shatters; momentarily."

"Autumn maple leaves; their colours, like the harvest; remind me of home."

"The spirit of defeating a man is the same for ten million men. The strategist makes small things into big things, like building a great Buddha from a one foot model."

"Many men feel that they should act according to the time or the moment they are facing, and thus are in confusion when something goes beyond this and some difficulty arises."

"Give my dream back raven! The moon you woke me to is misted over."

"When a flower is composed, it does not bloom all at once although the spring has come. Otherwise, yesterday's friend will become today's enemy, as yesterday's flower will become today's dust."

"Melting icicles; once proud soldiers, lose all form; returning to streams."

"The void is nothingness. By knowing things that exist, you can know that which does not exist. That is the void."

"A tree’s skeleton; exposed by autumn season; ready for new life."

"Blossom on the breeze; settles on the face of a corpse; beauty masking death."

"Everything grows cold; stillness like a frozen lake; there will be no thaw."

"As if with the nut and flower, the nut has become less than the flower...both those teaching and those learning are concerned with colouring and showing off their technique, trying to hasten the bloom of the flower."

"The person who practices an art is an artist, not a samurai, and one should have the intention of being called a samurai."

"There is one transcending level, and this is the most excellent of all. This person is aware of the endlessness of entering deeply into a certain Way and never thinks of himself as having finished."

"A cold, low whistle; accompanies my last breath; wind in sympathy."

"Take care of yourself so you can serve your master."

"Sunset seduces; each step brings me no closer; the horizon flees."

"The gaze should be large and broad. This is the twofold gaze 'Perception and Sight'. Perception is strong and sight weak."

"This life is inconsequential; I am merely concerned about your facing the evil paths in the next one."

"It is said that one should not hesitate to correct himself when he has made a mistake. If he corrects himself without the least bit of delay, his mistakes will disappear."

"The new year begins; my eyes hunger for the sight; of my last sunrise."

"Second is the way of the merchant. The wine maker obtains his ingredients and puts them to use to make his living. The way of the merchant is always to live by taking profit."

"A flash of lightning; illuminates man’s journey; then darkness returns."

"Laying in the shade; dappled sunlight warms my face; a welcome farewell."

"Snowflakes in the air; a cold wind carries them on; to my sacred home."

"A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. By doing this, you will awaken from your dreams."

"When you take up a sword, you must feel intent on cutting up the enemy. As you cut an enemy you must not change your grip, and your hands must not cower."

"A samurai will use a toothpick even though he has not eaten. Inside the skin of a dog, outside the hide of a tiger."

"Be true to the thought of the moment and avoid distraction. Other than continuing to exert yourself, enter into nothing else, but go to the extent of living single thought by single thought."

"There is not a man who does not get senile by the time he reaches sixty. And when one thinks that he will not be senile, he is already so."

"A soul ship finds me; crystal waters call my name; I am dragged below."

"An affected laugh shows lack of self-respect in a man and lewdness in a woman."

"Twice I awaken; once at the first burst of spring; once in wintertime."