Samurai Wisdom
Thoughts on Life and Death
by Master Kuma-San
by Master Kuma-San
Axiom 1
Take death seriously
and life lightly.
and life lightly.
Axiom 2
To conquer your fears
go meet them in the road.
go meet them in the road.
Axiom 3
Truth is right before your eyes;
truth is invisible.
truth is invisible.
Axiom 4
The short easy path
leads to grief.
leads to grief.
Axiom 5
To stop a windstorm,
raise your hand.
raise your hand.
Axiom 6
Do not sharpen your arrows
with mush.
with mush.
Axiom 7
Even when circling,
keep moving forward.
keep moving forward.
Axiom 8
Keep all your pathways
parallel.
parallel.
Axiom 9
Embrace your enemy
as a gift.
as a gift.
Axiom 10
So you are wise?
—who knows it?
—who knows it?
Axiom 11
Infinity is like
a ripe papaya.
a ripe papaya.
Axiom 12
Before you start the journey,
say hello.
say hello.
Axiom 13
Timing is all
and nothing.
and nothing.
Axiom 14
Reality is
your neighbor's illusion.
your neighbor's illusion.
Axiom 15
When it rains frogs,
go inside.
go inside.
Axiom 16
Catch the universe
in a thimble.
in a thimble.
Axiom 17
When facing gargoyles,
relax and just be.
relax and just be.
Axiom 18
Dream of your weakness
and your enemy's strengths.
and your enemy's strengths.
Axiom 19
Meet a raised weapon
unbashfully.
unbashfully.
Axiom 20
Listen first;
speak last.
speak last.
Axiom 21
If they frown at your jokes,
just walk away.
just walk away.
Axiom 22
To speak of life,
talk of Hannibal and the Alps.
talk of Hannibal and the Alps.
Axiom 23
Words cannot make
a stomach growl.
a stomach growl.
Axiom 24
Show more;
say less.
say less.
Axiom 25
To step through slime,
keep lifting your feet.
keep lifting your feet.
Axiom 26
If the emperor sits silent and unmoved,
provoke him.
provoke him.
Axiom 27
When the emperor plans to fly,
wait for reality to strike.
wait for reality to strike.
Axiom 28
If the emperor slaps you,
smile and wait.
smile and wait.
Axiom 29
Start the revolution
with an improvement.
with an improvement.
Axiom 30
Always speak truth
—yes, always.
—yes, always.
Axiom 31
When all is serene,
warn of dragons over the hill.
warn of dragons over the hill.
Axiom 32
Do not expect praise
from a dead mule.
from a dead mule.
Axiom 33
When stealing thunder,
be gentle and bold.
be gentle and bold.
Axiom 34
To catch a songbird,
open your hand.
open your hand.
Axiom 35
Tell the worst first,
the best last.
the best last.
Axiom 36
Roar only
when it counts.
when it counts.
Axiom 37
Be narrowly deep,
not widely shallow.
not widely shallow.
Axiom 38
All worthy change
brings tears and blood.
brings tears and blood.
Axiom 39
When an enemy appears,
shake his hand.
shake his hand.
Axiom 40
If you doubt heaven,
stay out of the church.
stay out of the church.
Axiom 41
To win acceptance,
get the gardener involved.
get the gardener involved.
Axiom 42
If you want gold,
ask for gold.
ask for gold.
Axiom 43
Speak of sunshine,
not mud.
not mud.
Axiom 44
Feel your enemy's blows
before they strike.
before they strike.
Axiom 45
Some stay frozen
even in July.
even in July.
Axiom 46
To move an army,
talk of not moving the army.
talk of not moving the army.
Axiom 47
Approach a tyrant
with firm respect.
with firm respect.
Axiom 48
A hunger is fed
only when felt.
only when felt.
Axiom 49
If you can do magic,
go tell someone.
go tell someone.
Axiom 50
Capture all wisdom
in three words.
in three words.
Axiom 51
When the enemy shrieks,
close your ears.
close your ears.
Axiom 52
If they call you names,
say, "Look at the fingerprints."
say, "Look at the fingerprints."
Axiom 53
Desire is warmer
than two-plus-two.
than two-plus-two.
Axiom 54
You must be
what you pretend.
what you pretend.
Axiom 55
When the monster belches,
stand firm.
stand firm.
Axiom 56
Emotions
smother facts.
smother facts.
Axiom 57
The glow of an idea
starts with a glimmer.
starts with a glimmer.
Axiom 58
Sell an orchard
one bite at a time.
one bite at a time.
Axiom 59
Familiarity breeds
acceptance.
acceptance.
Axiom 60
Always win
with grace and honor.
with grace and honor.
Axiom 61
When the city walls fall,
look at the sky.
look at the sky.
Axiom 62
Make your ideas
dance in their hand.
dance in their hand.
Axiom 63
Show the wound before
you ask for salve.
you ask for salve.
Axiom 64
Silence is stronger
than cold steel.
than cold steel.
Axiom 65
When you do not know,
say, "I don't know."
say, "I don't know."
Axiom 66
Don't tell
—humbly ask.
—humbly ask.
Axiom 67
Stop the flames;
ignore the smoke.
ignore the smoke.
Axiom 68
Speak the language
your neighbor hears.
your neighbor hears.
Axiom 69
To be remembered:
repeat, repeat again.
repeat, repeat again.
Axiom 70
Walking into a fog,
expect nothing.
expect nothing.
Axiom 71
Open your mouth
only to speak truth.
only to speak truth.
Axiom 72
Fight fire
with icewater.
with icewater.
Axiom 73
Be still and listen
—really listen!
—really listen!
Axiom 74
If you step on your tongue,
sit down and laugh.
sit down and laugh.
Axiom 75
Learn by suffering:
dare to be real.
dare to be real.
Axiom 76
To be heard,
say nothing.
say nothing.
Axiom 77
Know when "no"
says journey's end.
says journey's end.
