Excerpts from Hagakure:

Negligence is an extreme thing.

The way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either/or, there is only the quick choice of death. it is not particularly difficult. Be determined and advance. To say that dying without reaching one's aim is to die a dog's death is the frivolous way of sophisticates. When pressed with the choice of life or death, it is not necessary to gain one's aim.

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The person without previous resolution to inevitable death makes certain that his death will be in bad form. 

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After reading books and the like, it is best to burn them or throw them away. It is said that reading books is the work of the Imperial Court, but the work of the House of Nakano is found in military valor, grasping the staff of oak.

Excerpts from Hagakure:

One should search throughout his whole life how best to follow the Way. And he should study, setting his mind to work without putting things off. Within this is the Way.

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There are many people who, by being attached to a martial art and taking apprentices, believe that they have arrived at the full stature of a warrior. But it is a regrettable thing to put forth much effort and in the end become an "artist".

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By inconsistency and frivolity we stray from the Way and show ourselves to be beginners. In this we do much harm.

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Although the Mean is the standard for all things, in military affairs a man must always strive to outstrip others.

Excerpts from Hagakure:

Calculating people are contemptible. The reason for this is that calculation deals with loss and pain, and the loss and gain mind never stops. Death is considered loss and life is considered gain. Thus, death is something that such a person does not care for, and he is contemptible. 

Furthermore, scholars and their like are men who with wit and speech hide their own cowardice and greed.

People often misjudge this.

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A person with a bit of wisdom is one who will criticize the times. This is the basis of disaster. A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during he good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.

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A warrior should not say something fainthearted even casually. He should set his mind to this beforehand. Even in trifling matters the depths of one's heart can be seen.

Excerpts from Hagakure:

When on the battlefield, if you try not to let others take the lead and have the sole intention of breaking into enemy lines, then you will not fall behind others, your mind will become fierce and you will manifest martial valor.

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Until one reaches the age of forty it is better to put off wisdom and discrimination and excel in vitality. According to the person and the rank, though a person has passed the aged of forty, if he has no vitality, he will get no response from others.

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In the judgement of the elders, a samurai's obstinacy should be excessive. A thing done with moderation may later be judged to be insufficient. I have heard that when one thinks he has gone too far, he will not have erred. This sort of rule should not be forgotten.

Excerpts from Hagakure:

In Yui Shosetsu's military instructions, "The Way of the Three Ultimates", there is a passage on the character of karma. He received an oral teaching of about eighteen chapters concerning the Greater Bravery or Lesser Bravery. He neither wrote them down nor committed them to memory but rather forgot them completely. Then, in facing real situations, he acted on impulse and the things that he had learned became wisdom of his own. This is the character of karma. 

Okubo Doko is said to have remarked: Everyone says that no masters of the arts will appear as the world comes to an end. This is something that I cannot claim to understand. Plants such as peonies, azaleas and camellias will be able to produce beautiful flowers, end of the world or not. If men would give some thought to this fact, they would understand. And if people took notice of the masters of even these times, they would be able to say that there are masters in the various arts. But people become imbued with the idea that the world has come to an end and no longer put forth any effort. This is a shame. There is no fault in the times.