Do you remember the Jim Jarmusch movie where Forest Whitaker goes around reading and quoting some beautiful Japanese samurai sayings? Those quotes come from the famous book Hagakure ("Hidden by the Leaves" as a literal translation) by Yamamoto Tsunetomo.

Here are some of my personal favorites:

Lesson for Rainy Days

There is a certain state of mind that can be called "the state of mind when the rains fall." When a person finds themselves caught in a sudden downpour, they may try to avoid getting wet by running as fast as they can or by hiding under the eaves of roofs; but no matter what they do, they will get wet. If one is spiritually prepared to be wet from the start, they won't be the least bit angry when it happens. This attitude can be useful in all situations.

How to Suppress a Yawn?

Yawning in public is impolite. If you suddenly feel the urge to yawn, run your hand over your forehead from bottom to top, and that urge will go away. If this doesn't work, close your mouth and rub the inside of your lip with your tongue—or cover the yawn with your sleeve or hand, making sure to do so in the most discreet way possible. The same behavior applies to sneezing. If you don't pay attention to these things, you will appear ridiculous. And there are many other situations in life where it is important to know how to restrain yourself.

It Is Enough to Breathe Seven Times Before Making a Decision

According to an old saying, "It is enough to breathe seven times before making a decision." Lord Takanobu Riuzodi once remarked: "If you hesitate too long in making a decision, you fall asleep." And Lord Naoshige said: "When a decision is approached slowly, in seven out of ten cases, the matter ends badly." It is very difficult to make a decision when one is excited. But if, without paying attention to details, one approaches the problem with a spirit as sharp as a razor, the decision won't take longer than it takes to breathe seven times. It is enough to calmly examine the problem and start from its core.

If you're looking for some interesting martial art books, check this list, or leave some interesting titles in comments.