“He saw the white paper as the great universe of nonexistence. A single stroke would give rise to existence within it. He could evoke rain or wind at will, but whatever he drew, his heart would remain in the painting… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share Image
“How was Gengo to know, Saigyo reflected, that this unheroic existence imposed even greater torment than the icy lashings of the Nachi Falls in its thousand-foot leap? How was Gengo to realize that Saigyo had not slept a single night undisturbed since he had fled his home for the Eastern Hills, that his sleep was haunted by the cries of… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share
The world is a stone wall ... and they have put the stones so close together that there is not a single crack through… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share Image
“He used to say that a true rōnin did not seek fame or profit, did not curry favor with the powerful, did not attempt to use political power for his own ends, did not exempt himself from moral judgments. Rather he was as broad-minded as floating clouds, as quick to act as the rain and quite content in the midst… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share
“A wanderer with no ideal, no sense of gratitude for his independence, is no more than a beggar! The difference between a beggar and… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share Image
“Lord Karasumaru considered it a grave mistake on the part of the gods to have made a man like himself a nobleman. And, though a servant of the Emperor, he saw only two paths open to him: to live in constant misery or to spend his time carousing. The sensible choice was to rest his head on the knees of… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share
“I can only bow to the will of the heaven, but not to the will of these men.” — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share Image
“People were born with two hands; why not use both of them? As it was, swordsmen fought with only one sword, and often one… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share Image
“If the talents I was born with are the right ones, I may someday achieve my goal. If not, I may go through life… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share Image
“kalau agama itu ajaran sehat, kita tak akan membutuhkan nabi-nabi untuk menyampaikannya kepada kita. -Takuan” — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share
“Fighting isn’t all there is to the Art of War. The men who think that way, and are satisfied to have food to eat… — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share Image
“How to make his mother, whom he imagined to be the unhappiest person in the world, the happiest, was what drove him on.” — Eiji Yoshikawa Copy Share Image
