--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Matters of great concern should be…" description: "\"“Matters of great concern should be treated lightly.” Master Ittei commented, “Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.”\" — Yamamoto Tsune..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_great-concern_matters-of-great-concern-should-be-treat_1092874.png" --- # Matters of great concern should be treated lightly.”… ![“Matters of great concern should be treated lightly.” Master Ittei commented, “Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.” quote by Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_great-concern_matters-of-great-concern-should-be-treat_1092874.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_great-concern_matters-of-great-concern-should-be-treat_1092874.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_great-concern_matters-of-great-concern-should-be-treat_1092874.png) > ““Matters of great concern should be treated lightly.” Master Ittei commented, “Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.”” [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serious matters deserve light handling, while trivial issues require serious attention. **In simple terms:** Treat big issues lightly, small ones seriously. Key Takeaway Balance seriousness according to importance. Themes philosophy balance perspective humor Mood thoughtful contrasting Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - decision making - conflict resolution - personal priorities - null Key Concepts Bushido ethics Questions to Reflect On - When should you be serious about a big issue? - How do you gauge the weight of a concern? A Different Perspective Misinterpretation could lead to neglect of important issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concern Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern-treated-2449237/) [Great Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-concern-441692/) [Matters Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-small-739438/) [Small Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-concern-1603351/) [Treated Lightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated-lightly-2583080/) ## Related quotes > [Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/matters-of-small-concern-should-be-treated-seriously/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [Even trivial events demonstrate strong devotion to the Universe and small concern for ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/even-trivial-events-demonstrate-strong-devotion-to-the-universe-and/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Interestingly, in Cuba abortion is treated as lightly as getting a mole removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achy-obejas/interestingly-in-cuba-abortion-is-treated-as-lightly-as-getting-a/) [Achy Obejas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/achy-obejas/) > [“I will take a serious approach to a subject usually treated lightly, which is a nerdy thing to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-nugent/i-will-take-a-serious-approach-to-a-subject-usually-treated-lightly/) [Benjamin Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-nugent/) > [People are too various to be treated so lightly. I am too various to be trusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-are-too-various-to-be-treated-so-lightly-i-am-too-various-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This democracy of ours, which sometimes we've treated so lightly, is more than ever a comfortable cloak, so let us not tear it asunder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/this-democracy-of-ours-which-sometimes-we-ve-treated-so-lightly-is/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“We now live in a world where I think many people walk around asking themselves , do other people matter? Does the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-magary/we-now-live-in-a-world-where-i-think-many-people-walk-around-asking/) [Drew Magary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-magary/) > [I am sorry to say that sometimes matters of very small importance waste a good deal of precious time, by the long and repeated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whipple/i-am-sorry-to-say-that-sometimes-matters-of-very-small-importance/) [William Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whipple/) > [“Still, it’s better to believe that some high purpose guides our steps than to think that nothing matters except our own small miseries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/still-it-s-better-to-believe-that-some-high-purpose-guides-our-steps/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I'm very keenly aware that there aren't very many women writing literary fiction in Ireland and so that gives me a sense that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/i-m-very-keenly-aware-that-there-aren-t-very-many-women-writing/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once done well is done forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/for-it-matters-not-how-small-the-beginning-may-seem-to-be-what-is-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/for-it-matters-not-how-small-the-beginning-may-seem-to-be-what-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Russia's assertiveness in global affairs is something I look upon with great concern, which we need to address with eyes wide open and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-coats/russia-s-assertiveness-in-global-affairs-is-something-i-look-upon/) [Dan Coats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-coats/) > [Dr. Rice's record on Iraq gives me great concern. In her public statements she clearly overstated and exaggerated the intelligence concerning Iraq before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/dr-rice-s-record-on-iraq-gives-me-great-concern-in-her-public/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [My great concern for you in life is not that you will fail, but that you will succeed in doing the wrong things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/my-great-concern-for-you-in-life-is-not-that-you-will-fail-but-that/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) ## More by Yamamoto Tsunetomo > [It is difficult for a fool's habits to change to selflessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/it-is-difficult-for-a-fool-s-habits-to-change-to-selflessness/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [It is better not to become acquainted with men about whom you have formerly had doubts. No matter what you do, they will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/it-is-better-not-to-become-acquainted-with-men-about-whom-you-have/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/when-one-has-made-a-decision-to-kill-a-person-even-if-it-will-be-very/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-will-be-useful-during-the-good/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [ “\[...\] if one seeks to resolve a problem, let it sit for a while, take time to think about the “Four Oaths” and subdue… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/if-one-seeks-to-resolve-a-problem-let-it-sit-for-a-while-take-time-to/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/it-is-a-principle-of-the-art-of-war-that-one-should-simply-lay-down/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [The way of the Samurai is found in death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/the-way-of-the-samurai-is-found-in-death/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai: if by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/this-is-the-substance-of-the-way-of-the-samurai-if-by-setting-one-s/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [Covetousness, anger and foolishness are things to sort out well. When bad things happen in the world, if you look at them comparatively, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/covetousness-anger-and-foolishness-are-things-to-sort-out-well-when/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [Looking comparatively at the good things, you will see that they are not excluded from wisdom, humanity and bravery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/looking-comparatively-at-the-good-things-you-will-see-that-they-are/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [When something out of the ordinary happens, it is ridiculous to say that it is a mystery or a portent of something to come...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/when-something-out-of-the-ordinary-happens-it-is-ridiculous-to-say/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [It is bad when one thing becomes two. One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. If one understands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/it-is-bad-when-one-thing-becomes-two-one-should-not-look-for-anything/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [When delivering something like an important letter or other written materials, grasp it firmly in your hand as you go and do not release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/when-delivering-something-like-an-important-letter-or-other-written/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [One should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/one-should-make-his-decisions-within-the-space-of-seven-breaths/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [Continue to spur a running horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/continue-to-spur-a-running-horse/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) [Explore all 105 Yamamoto Tsunetomo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) ## More Great Concern quotes > [My great concern for you in life is not that you will fail, but that you will succeed in doing the wrong things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/my-great-concern-for-you-in-life-is-not-that-you-will-fail-but-that/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [Dr. Rice's record on Iraq gives me great concern. In her public statements she clearly overstated and exaggerated the intelligence concerning Iraq before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/dr-rice-s-record-on-iraq-gives-me-great-concern-in-her-public/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Russia's assertiveness in global affairs is something I look upon with great concern, which we need to address with eyes wide open and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-coats/russia-s-assertiveness-in-global-affairs-is-something-i-look-upon/) [Dan Coats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-coats/) > [“At the same time, they will also express great concern about the future that awaits us should this at once powerful and fragile web…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-p-marra/at-the-same-time-they-will-also-express-great-concern-about-the/) [Peter P. Marra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-p-marra/) > [My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/my-great-concern-is-not-whether-you-have-failed-but-whether-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we don't get back to the word of God in this nation, I feel He will judge America just as he did Sodom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/if-we-don-t-get-back-to-the-word-of-god-in-this-nation-i-feel-he-will/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [If I stumbled badly in doing the job, I think it would have made life more difficult for women, and that was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/if-i-stumbled-badly-in-doing-the-job-i-think-it-would-have-made-life/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [I have great concern, but my concern is probably not what most people would think it would be.My concern is why is our faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-have-great-concern-but-my-concern-is-probably-not-what-most-people/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [Land has been an issue of great concern to our people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ramaphosa/land-has-been-an-issue-of-great-concern-to-our-people/) [Cyril Ramaphosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ramaphosa/) > [“May we show great concern to those of great concern to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/may-we-show-great-concern-to-those-of-great-concern-to-god/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [In the mind of Bill Clinton, political considerations outweigh even life-and-death matters of great concern to his own law-enforcement officials, not to mention the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-olson/in-the-mind-of-bill-clinton-political-considerations-outweigh-even/) [Barbara Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-olson/) > [Futurity is the great concern of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/futurity-is-the-great-concern-of-mankind/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 13 Great Concern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-concern-441692/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Matters of great concern should be treated lightly.” Master Ittei commented, “Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yamamoto Tsunetomo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/matters-of-great-concern-should-be-treated-lightly-master-ittei/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Great 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