Samurai Sayings and Quotes

Samurai culture is heavily romanticized. With all of the movies depicting “the way of the warrior” and their incredible swords, it’s easy to see why this skillful military class remains a fascinating aspect to outsiders of Japanese culture. Below you’ll find a collection of wise and insightful samurai quotes.

Growing a mustache was one of the disciplines of a samurai so that his head would not be thrown away upon his death. Tommy Ito
A child born into a samurai family was immersed in warrior culture from its first breath. During its birth a priest, or the baby's father, pulled a drawstring so that the twanging sound might ward off evil spirits. The future samurai was presented with a small sword talisman to wear from infancy. Tommy Ito
Samurai girls did not receive formal education, but they were expected to run their husband's estate while they were away at war. Tommy Ito
Samurai were feudal lords who mostly ruled farmland. But as more and more people moved to larger cities, such as Tokyo, the samurai began to lose their influence and wealth. Blake Hoena
As the samurai's influence grew, so did their status in Japanese society. They went from being professional soldiers to land-owning nobles. The most powerful of these lords were called daimyos. Blake Hoena
The word samurai translates to 'those who served.' The samurai grew in importance during Japan's Heian Period(AD 794-1185). Blake Hoena
The samurai who failed his lord suffered a dishonor worse than death. There was only one way to erase the disgrace. The samurai must commit seppuku, sometimes called hara-kiri, or belly-slitting. In this horribly painful suicide, the dishonored samurai used a short sword to cut open his belly and release his spirit. Virginia Schomp
The size of a samurai's house depended on his rank, but all shared the same basic design. Virginia Schomp
Every samurai home had a soothing, artistically designed garden that served as a hideaway for thought and prayer. Virginia Schomp
The samurai castle is the grandest example of the blending of beauty and practicality in the Japanese arts. Virginia Schomp
The samurai were warriors in medieval Japan. They were expert fighters, with an unsurpassed knowledge of martial arts. Jim Ollhoff
The samurai swore an oath of loyalty to their leader, and would fight to the death to protect him or her. This oath made the samurai even more fearsome on the battlefield because the samurai were not afraid of death. Jim Ollhoff
The samurai no longer exist. But even today, they capture our imagination with their skill, their loyalty, and their fearlessness. Jim Ollhoff
The samurai code of honor affected every part of their lives. Jim Ollhoff
When a warrior left the confines of a castle, he always wore two swords— the daito(long sword) and the shoto(short sword). By wearing the daito and shoto, therefore, a warrior not only demonstrated his resolution but also accepted responsibility for his actions and pledged to live his life in honor. Fumon Tanaka