In China there was once a man who liked pictures of dragons, and his clothing and furnishings were all designed accordingly. His deep affection for dragons was brought to the attention of the dragon god, and onde day a real dragon appeared before his window. It is said that he died of fright. He was probably a man who always spoke big words but acted differently when facing the real thing.

---

The deepest love is often hidden.

---

It is a principle of the art of war that one should simply lay down his life and strike. If one's opponent also does the same, it is a even match. Defeating one's opponent is then a matter of faith and destiny.

---

To give a person an opinion one must first judge well whether that person is of the disposition to receive it or not.

---

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

---

I have found that the Way of the samurai is death. This means that when you are compelled to choose between life and death, you must quickly choose death.

---

Light matters should be dealt with seriously. Serious matters should be dealt with lightly.

---

A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death.

---

There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you will still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.

---

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

---