Promote talent and talent alone.

Before wine, one should sing — for how long is life? Like morning dew, so many days have passed.

I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me.

Youth on horseback has passed. The world is at peace and white hairs multiply. With what remains of life that heaven permits, how can I not enjoy it?

-- Date Masamune

Never flatter others. Never desire wealth and status.

-- Kuroda Yoshitaka

Wisdom that comes only after hearing others' opinions is not true wisdom.

-- Toyotomi Hideyoshi

People are the castle, people are the walls, people are the moat. Compassion makes allies; cruelty makes enemies.

-- Takeda Shingen

Without first establishing internal governance, there can be no external campaigns.

-- Ōkubo Toshimichi

A man who wants neither life, nor fame, nor rank, nor money — such a man is the hardest to deal with.

-- Saigō Takamori