Eiji Yoshikawa

“Her only weapons were her tears.”

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Love was like a toothache.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Every act is an expression of one's self.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Is there anything that will not decay?”

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Enemies were teachers in disguise.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Die? Then so be it.”

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“It was only leaves and branches.”

— Eiji Yoshikawa

There's not much benefit in attacking an empty house.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, food was more important than a woman's suffering.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Great character is forged through hardships.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“She needed intimacy and a sense of partaking in, not just observing, real life.”

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Sincerity, even if it speaks with a stutter, will sound eloquent when inspired.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

To the courtiers flushed with wine, life was pleasure, and pleasure life.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

A wise man who cultivates wisdom may sometimes drown in it.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“I can only bow to the will of the heaven, but not to the will of these men.”

— Eiji Yoshikawa

I want to dedicate myself to training and discipline. I want to spend every moment of every day working to improve myself.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

The greatest happiness of life was to stand at the difficult border between success and failure.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Danger was the grindstone on which the swordsman whetted his spirit. Enemies were teachers in disguise.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

When a woman dislikes the man who is courting her, she parries him cleverly, like a willow in the wind.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

If a man wanted to put the entire universe in his breast, he couldn't do it with his chest stuck out.

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“kalau agama itu ajaran sehat, kita tak akan membutuhkan nabi-nabi untuk menyampaikannya kepada kita. -Takuan”

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Not only must a warrior be strong with his bow, but he must have a heart full of pity for all living…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Still, in a fight like that, you never know. There’s a superhuman element involved. All warriors have to face it; winning or…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Fighting isn't all there is to the Art of War. The men who think that way, and are satisfied to have food…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Should misfortune visit the Court, that can only be the result of its continued abuses. If the palace is attacked, that can…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Whether people were great or not, there was not much variety in their inner life experience. Any difference lay merely in how…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Through his mad fancying he remembered Mokunosuke's words: "Whoever you are, you are a man after all. You are no cripple with…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“A fief, the elder Hosokawa had advised, was like a castle wall built of many rocks. A rock that could not be…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

...you're going to find people from all over the country, everyone hungry for money and position. You won't make a name for…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Monks transgress the Laws of the Buddha, stir up the common people, store wealth and weapons, and spread rumors; under the guise…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Is that so? He who lives in the mountains years for the city, and the city-dweller would rather live in the mountains,"…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Ah, you pitiful, pitiful creatures! Beautiful family! Nobler far than stupid men..." he cried softly to himself. What was he doing here…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“He used to say that a true rōnin did not seek fame or profit, did not curry favor with the powerful, did…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“It wasn't that he had forgotten the lesson Takuan had taught him: the truly brave man is one who loves life, cherishing…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“The large strings hummed like rain, The small strings whispered like a secret, Hummed, whispered—and then were intermingled Like a pouring of…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Musashi wondered how many people there were who on this night could say: “I was right. I did what I should have…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“Takuan had taught him: the truly brave man is one who loves life, cherishing it as a treasure that once forfeited can…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

“It’s not just my body. I’m cold inside. Not disciplined properly. That’s what it is. I still long to cling to warm…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

To Kiyomori each stall, each soul here seemed borne under by the crushing weight of the world; everyone here was a pitiful…

— Eiji Yoshikawa

Hold on to your life and make it honest and brave.

— Eiji Yoshikawa