Quotes and Excerpts from The Tao of Shinsei
|
Printable Version:
|
| ||
From The Way of Shinsei:
- If a general is wise, he knows that a single man can halt an entire army.
- Sometimes the downfall of houses hinges on the fumble of the wrist.
- The higher you stand above modesty, the easier it becomes to lose your footing.
- Patient men and lazy men make terrible weapons.
- A sagacious general, armed with the knowledge of his enemy, will be able to act as if he knows his enemy's every thought.
- When you are doing one thing, be concerned with that one thing and nothing else. Distraction breeds disaster.
- One must learn to see what is to be seen and to see through what others wish you to see.
- Wisdom can be found in many places, but you must always begin at home.
- Knowing your advantages does you no good if your enemy is able to keep you from employing them.
- The way of darkness always brings great power. The way of darkness always brings a great price.
- "...for the more corrupt the soul, the more painful it becomes to look upon the pure. So it is with crystal and jade and the creatures of the dark lands. Remember this, Hantei, for it will one day save your life."
- Courage may feed a man's soul, but it is rice that feeds his belly and an army cannot move on courage alone.
- It takes a wise man to see an obstacle as it truly is and not as it appears to be.
- Do not be wary of men who take risks with titles and lands; be wary of men who have nothing to lose.
- When darkness descends, a man must find allies in the shadows.
- A wise man does not fear long knives, but knives that may only strike close.
- There are subtler strategies and deadlier battlefields than even I know.
- When ten thousand men clash with arms and fire, it is always a single man's actions that make the difference.
- The only true test of courage is the last one.
- Petting scorpions with a compassionate hand only gets you a sting.
- Friendship is truly tested when it is time to share the burden.
- Desperate men employ desperate measures.
- You cannot balance the elements while you are without balance,
- There are no secrets. There is no understanding, Void is all and nothing. It is the dance of the elements.
- A clear mind can topple even the strongest will.
- In order to choose the correct path, you must know the pitfalls that await you.
- It is the sound of purest harmony, the sound of the universe. Make your soul sing its song, and you will find there is nothing you cannot accomplish.
- Only the face of all that is and is not can reveal the truth.
- Winds blow, nations change, fortunes rise and fall; but the simple folk will always be asked to shoulder the weight.
- Brave men may be forgotten; brave deeds never so.
- You need no armor, you need no sword. You need only to know that you cannot be defeated.
- Destiny does not believe in secrets. When something is meant to be, it is obvious to all but the foolish.
- When your enemy is certain you cannot act, victory is within your reach.
- There cannot be two suns in the heavens or two Emperors on earth.
- The Tao of Shinsei is more than clever sayings and trite wisdom; the wisdom of Shinsei contains the secrets of the universe.
- Wherever there is light, there must be shadow.
- One must bow to offer aid to a fallen man.
- True nobility come not from being superior to another man, but from being superior to your past.
- The elements are not the means to an end...they are the beginning and the end.
- As an ocean to a small stream, the leader to his people, this is the Tao of the world.
- While others lament on what they should have done, the wise man prepares for what he should do next.
- Guard your words carefully, for you own every word you speak.
- Following a false light only leads you deeper into darkness.
- Your soul -- your life energy -- is not bound by flesh. It can reach where your fingers cannot.
- Shinsei said, "Who binds you?"
The Emperor said, "No one binds me -- I am the Emperor."
"A contradiction in itself," said the monk with a smile. - "The grasses feel the wind, as does the rock, the tree, and even us. Yet is it truly the same wind that each feels?"
- At times, the voice of peace must ring like Thunder.
- A black heart hides many secrets. The blackest heart hides the deadliest secret of all.
- We tell the tales of heroes to remind ourselves that we also can be great.
- Appreciation of beauty is the beginning of wisdom.
- Study what the pine and cherry blossom can teach. Man is not the only keeper of enlightenment.
- Two men can brave what one man cannot.
- You can steal a samurai's weapon and armor, but you can never steal his honor.
- When the student is ready, the teacher is there.
- Knowing your weakness is a form of strength. Seek the truth in that, and you will never be beaten again.
- Those with pure purpose have the strength to never fall.
- In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities. In the expert's, there are few.
- Wisdom comes in finding the opportunities that dilemmas provide.
- To you, this is only the present, a single evening's labor to be passed on to another for transcription. But to those who will come later, this is history. Mistakes made, battles won and lost...lessons learned.
- Patient men and lazy men make terrible weapons.
- Is there hope? Corruption corrupts.
- The lion likes the taste of wolf until he meets the pack.
- A friend only fools you once.
- You see a man murdering a child. The child is you. Know what you would do next.
- A courageous man has no need of weapons; a sensible man wants all of them; an ambitious man has plans for the sensible one.
- Be kind to the weak, the old, and the ignorant. During your life, you will be all of them.
- Mirrors can kill by degrees.
- There are three strong men who look for weapons: the bodyguard, the soldier, and the parent.
- The hungry scorpions crawl across the battlefield. The sated scorpion sleeps in your boot. Which do you fear?
- 'All things are necessary - war, peace, the edge of the sword, and the sound of a poem. With understanding, all things are one.' (from: Glimpse of the Unicorn, Storm over Matsu Palace)
- 'When seeking a teacher, first find those who know what you know, then those who know what you do not.' (from: In Search of Guidance, Embers of War)
- 'A wise man does not seek wisdom in the world. He finds it within himself.' (from: The Path of Wisdom, Diamond Edition)
- 'Those who fear to act have already failed.' (from: Coward!, Ivory Edition)
- 'A man with no fear of death is a man whom death fears.' (from: Setting Sun Strike, Glory of the Empire)
- 'Humility is the greatest teacher.' (from: Doji Doukohito, Khan's Defiance)
- 'In simplicity, there is honor.' (from: Shinsei's Shrine, Celestial Edition 15th Anniversary)
- 'Complexity is simple. Simplicity is difficult.' (from: Shinsei's Shrine, Diamond Edition)
- 'Seek enlightenment, but do not be foolish enough to expect enlightenment.' (from: Introspection, Heaven and Earth)
- 'In the strangest places, seek yourself.' (from: Silent Solace, Khan's Defiance)
- 'Find the essence of fire within yourself, and the world shall bend around you like metal at the forge.' (from: Soul of Fire, Promotional-Ivory)
- 'If you cannot find enlightenment now, wait a hundred years. It shall be waiting for you.' (from: Temple of the Ages, Promotional-Ivory)
- 'To expect surprise is the only way to avoid it.' (from: Plans within Plans, Diamond Edition)
- 'Every day contains one thousand chances for your destiny to be changed. Choose a path, choose an ally, choose an enemy… each affects all we do and all we ever shall do.' (from: Twist of Fate, Emperor Edition)
- 'Death cannot be avoided. Only embraced.' (from: A Noble End, Khan's Defiance)
- 'Never promise more than you can perform.' (from: Dragon Dancers, The War of Spirits)
- 'People argue. Nature acts.' (from: Hurricane, Storms over Matsu Palace)
- 'A man whose sword is always drawn is never approached. He has no allies. Yet a man who never draws his sword will find it rusting in its sheath. Seek balance in all things.' (from: Kakita Mitsumichi, Twenty Festivals)
- 'The center is everything. Find the center. All else proceeds naturally from there.' (from: Kokoro, A Perfect Cut)
Additional Quotes:
"Men know how the world ought to work, then see the way it really does, and ask, why are these things different?” (How the World Ought to Work)
"The mighty must fall; the full becomes empty" (Caged Birds)
"Truth draws together the virtuous, while secrets isolate the soul." (Invitation to Winter Court)
"The wise samurai and the foolish one may walk the same path." (An Impossible Task)
"Men know how the world ought to work, then see the way it really does, and ask, why are these things different?” (How the World Ought to Work)
"The mighty must fall; the full becomes empty" (Caged Birds)
"Truth draws together the virtuous, while secrets isolate the soul." (Invitation to Winter Court)
"The wise samurai and the foolish one may walk the same path." (An Impossible Task)
(This is a transcription from the entry within “Way of Shinsei” and "Bearers of Jade" from the first edition of the L5R RPG. In no way do I own any of this or is any of my original work. The full PDF can be found on DriveThruRPG. Please support the official product.)
