Takeda Nobushige Quotes

One must not be negligent in learning. In the Lun Yu it says: "To study and not to think is darkness. To think without study is dangerous."

Good medicine is bitter to the mouth, but has an effect on the disease. Faithful words hurt one's ears, but have value for one's conduct.

The man who hunts a deer does not gaze at the mountains.

One's soldier should not abuse the enemy. 'Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.

In the Wu Tzu it says: 'He who would save his life shall lose it, and he who would give up his life shall save it.'

When one would make a surprise attack on the enemy, he should avoid the major roads and seek out the lesser ones. Then attack.

When one is serving his master, he should exert himself.

One should not utter a word about his own inadequacies. In the Oxo it says: 'When a man lets out a single word, the long and short of him will be known.'