Bushido
Code
“When we are foolish we want to conquer the world.
When we are wise we want to conquer ourselves”.
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Honesty & Justice
(Gi)
Be acutely honest throughout you dealings with all people. Believe in justice not from other people, but from yourself. To the true warrior there is no shades of grey in the question of honesty and justice . . . There is only right and wrong.
Polite Courtesy
(Rei)
Samurai have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. A warrior is courteous even to their enemies, without this outward show of respect we are nothing more than animals. A warrior is not only respected for their strength in battle, but also by their dealings with others. The true strength of the warrior becomes apparent in difficult times.
Heroic Courage
(Yu)
Rise above the masses of people who are afraid to act. Hiding like a turtle in a shell is not living at all. A samurai must have heroic courage. It is absolutely risky. It is dangerous. It is living life completely, fully, and wonderfully. Heroic courage is not blind. It is intelligent and strong.
Honor
(Meiyo)
A true samurai has only one judge of honor, and that is himself. Decisions you make and how these decisions are carried out are a reflection of whom you truly are. You cannot hide from yourself.
Compassion
(Jin)
Through intense training the warrior becomes quick and strong. He is not like other men. He develops power that must be used for the good of all. He has compassion. He helps his fellow man at every opportunity. If an opportunity does not arise he goes out of his way to find one.
Complete Sincerity
(Makoto)
When a samurai has said he will perform an action, it is as good as done. Nothing will stop him from completing what he has said he will do. He does not have to give his word; he does not have to promise. Speaking and doing are the same action.
Duty & Loyalty
(Chu)
For the samurai, having done some “thing” or said some “thing”, he knows he has responsibility for that “thing”. He is responsible for it, and all the consequences that follow. A warrior is immensely loyal to those in his care. To those he is responsible for he remains fiercely true.
