21 Powerful Rules of Life, Borrowed From Samurai Wisdom

Hagakure (葉隠), in English meaning In the Shadow of Leaves or Hidden by Leaves, is a renowned ancient Japanese text that served as a practical and philosophical guide for warriors. Centuries after it was written, it even came to be considered the definitive guide of the armed forces of the Japanese Empire during World War II.

The book is essentially a collection of commentaries that were compiled from conversations with Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a former samurai, from 1709 to 1716, being published years later.

Following his life as a samurai, Yamamoto subsequently became a Zen Buddhist priest and relayed his experiences, memories, reflections and anecdotes to a fellow former samurai, who compiled them into Hagakure.

While the pieces of advice and wisdom in Hagakure specifically relate to the world of the ancient samurai, virtually all of them can be relevant and valuable in peacetime in the modern world by understanding their essence.

Here are 21 powerful rules of life that are drawn from the samurai philosophy and wisdom of Hagakure, and adapted for modern life.

1. Accept Death as a Way of Life

Yamamoto emphasised that a samurai should always live as though he were already dead. Accepting her own mortality allows a warrior to act confidently, decisively and without any fear of the outcome. This philosophy encourages us to live boldly and fearlessly, and allows us to make tough choices without hesitation.

Now of course, this mindset of accepting that you’re already dead is pretty over-the-top in modern life. That’s because, unlike the samurai days, these days we’re not generally involved in life and death activities on a daily basis.

We do, however, from time to time find ourselves in situations whose outcomes can have serious, if not life-threatening, implications in our lives.

This philosophy can be useful for us therefore by adapting it as follows:

“To overcome any challenge, you must fight as if the worst possible outcome has already happened.”

I talk about this concept in much more detail in a recent blog post, which you can read by clicking here.

2. Be a Woman of Action, Not Words

In today’s attention age, people rely on words more than ever before in desperate attempts to build their image or credibility. Talking about something that should or will be done, however, is meaningless without action.

A person’s true character is revealed in her deeds and her achievements, not in empty promises or lofty speeches. Whereas a woman of words will almost always get lost in the noise, a woman of action will stand above the crowd.

How you’re perceived, treated and remembered by the world depends on how well you utilise this philosophy. So save your energy. Prove your worth and build your reputation through what you do, not what you say.

Remember, a reputation is built in silence.

You don’t need to announce your virtues. The samurai way is to act honourably, even when no one is watching. Over time, your consistent actions will speak louder than any self-promotion.

3. Loyalty is the Highest Virtue

Yamamoto believed that honour lies in unwavering loyalty to one’s lord, family, or cause.

Nowadays of course there are no lords, however we are surrounded by family and friends. And there are higher causes, principles, responsibilities, and personal values we can stand for.

The measure of a person’s character can be interpreted by her dedication to all of these, even in the face of hardship. Even when it’s painful or inconvenient to do so.

Disloyalty to those close to us, and to the values that we claim to hold, is the surest sign of a person who lacks honour and character, and who can’t be trusted or relied upon.

A woman who is fiercely loyal is a woman of true substance and value.

4. A True Warrior is Always Prepared

Whether in battle or in everyday life, you should always be ready for the unexpected. Being prepared for any foreseeable or unforeseeable crisis prevents panic, confusion, poor decision-making, and most often, failure.

Being proactive rather than reactive is key here.

But how do you prepare for the unexpected?

While you can’t always prepare for every specific eventuality, you can build yourself into a stronger, more resilient and more capable person over time to maximise your ability to deal with any crises that may come your way.

This can be achieved by proactively building your physical strength and conditioning, mental discipline, mental toughness, knowledge, self-defence skills, and overall life skills. In addition, being proactive with financial planning and building a close support network around you is also vital.

5. The Moment to Strike is When Opportunity Comes

Hesitation leads to missed chances and to failure.

A warrior must recognise the right moment and act swiftly, confidently, and decisively, both in battle and in life. And she must stand by her decisions.

This takes courage, preparation and attention.

Without attention, opportunities will pass you by unnoticed. And without preparation, they will pass you by while you lay considering your options, second guessing yourself, and procrastinating.

In life, success often depends on the ability to take risks at the right time. When opportunities arise, be ready and pursue them with conviction.

When your decisions don’t bear the outcomes you wished for, learn from them and move forward. Regret is a complete waste of energy. It’s far better to act fully committed than to waver in uncertainty.

6. Sincerity Over Cleverness

While intelligence is a valued quality in both ancient and modern times, Hagakure warns against being excessively cunning or manipulative.

This is a particularly important piece of advice today however, given the competitiveness of modern life.

True strength of character lies in sincerity. In being honest, straightforward, and trustworthy. People will follow and respect a person whose intentions are clear and noble.

Relying on deceit and manipulation to gain an advantage, on the other hand, may offer short term benefits, but these will come at a high price. Without the trust and belief of others around you, it will be impossible to enjoy their cooperation and support in any of life’s endeavours.

No person is an island. Success is never achieved in isolation. Isolation, however, is the inevitable outcome of betraying the trust of others.

7. Practice Courtesy and Respect in All Things

Strength isn’t just about exerting your influence over others, but also about how you treat others. Showing respect, humility, and good manners toward others, especially when you’re in a position of power or authority, are true signs of power and character.

Being rude and disrespectful is easy and lazy. It betrays a lack of discipline, a lack of emotional maturity, and a lack of character.

On the other hand, treating people well earns their loyalty and trust. It incentivises them to follow you, work with you, and support you.

Respect begets respect and elevates everyone.

8. Respect and Learn from the Past

The past holds very valuable lessons for everyone. It always has and always will. Yamamoto also believed that traditions shouldn’t be discarded lightly, as they, too, are powerful teachers of past knowledge and wisdom.

It’s important to study and embrace history, learn from those who came before, and carry their wisdom into the present. This gives you an advantage over most people, who merely rely on their own limited education and life experiences as their sources of knowledge.

Successful people and leaders are students of the past.

Learning life’s lessons first hand can be a slow, tedious process. And particularly in the modern world, it can be challenging and fragile – a process of trial and error. Real knowledge isn’t always easy to spot amidst all the noise nowadays.

The knowledge and wisdom of history doesn’t need to make promises or ask for your trust. It’s proven and has stood the test of time. Embrace it and make it your secret weapon.

9. Constantly Strive for Self-Improvement

Complacency inevitably leads to decline.

Take a look around at the populations of the Western world and you’ll see clear evidence that this is true. When times are good and life is easy, complacency sets in. People become lazy, unmotivated, overweight and unhealthy.

It’s alarming, for example, that for the majority of people learning stops once they’ve left school. The pursuit of learning and of excellence should be lifelong, as there’s always room to grow.

Like a warrior, you must continuously refine your skills, strengthen your mind and your heart, and improve as a person. Never become complacent and satisfied with the status quo.

Life is about growing, and to stop growing is to start dying.

10. Accept That Failure is a Step Toward Success

We learn from our early school days that failure is a bad thing. We’re rewarded for passing exams and successfully completing tasks, and reprimanded for failing.

While being motivated to succeed is of course a good thing, as adults we must also learn that in real life, failure is simply a stepping stone to success. It’s therefore not something to be avoided or to be ashamed of.

There is only shame in being afraid of failure and being defeated by failure. Of not even trying or giving up before your goals are met.

Yamamoto reminds us that even the greatest warriors fail. What matters is learning from mistakes and continuing forward. Fear of failure should never prevent you from taking action, as every setback is an opportunity to both move closer to success and to grow stronger.

11. Cultivate a Quiet Inner Strength

Strength isn’t just about physical power. Physical power is something we exert at will, whenever it suits us. Strength is more so about mental resilience. About the ability to endure.

A warrior must train herself to tolerate hardships, to remain calm under pressure, and to develop the mental toughness and inner fortitude to handle life’s challenges.

True strength is quiet strength. It demonstrates composure and inner confidence, rather that outward displays of loudness or aggression. Strong women feel secure within themselves and don’t feel the need to constantly assert their dominance or power.

A woman who portrays a quiet inner strength and confidence will always command respect from those around her.

12. Honour is More Important Than Life

According to Yamamoto, a samurai warrior would rather die than live dishonourably. This is one of the central principles in Hagakure.

But honour wasn’t just about pride or reputation to the samurai, it was the very essence of a person’s worth. A warrior’s life only had meaning if it was lived with honour, and to betray one’s word or values was to destroy the foundation of their existence.

To live in shame was considered worse than to die with dignity.

For modern life, this principles teaches commitment to values and principles, even when it costs you something. Tell the truth even when it’s uncomfortable or scary. Stand up for what’s right, even when it’s unpopular. Walk away from money and status if it means compromising who you are.

In the modern world honour is slowly becoming an outdated notion in some respects. Nevertheless, it will always mark the measure of a person’s character.

13. Do Everything with Full Commitment

Half-hearted effort leads to mediocrity, and the world is filled with mediocre people. A person will never achieve or become extraordinary in any way without commitment.

If you choose to do something, do it completely, do it enthusiastically, and do it to the best of your ability. Whether it’s a job, a hobby, or a relationship, it deserves your very best effort.

This mindset fosters excellence, personal growth and success in life. It positions you above the meagre crowd. As a result, it also wins the respect of those around you.

14. Training Must Be Daily and Relentless

Just as a warrior’s edge dulls without constant practice, so too do our skills and abilities in modern life. This is why discipline is so important.

Mastery of anything in life requires ongoing effort, both to develop and to maintain.

Whether it’s physical, mental, emotional, or moral, daily training builds strength, resilience, and readiness for any of life’s tests. The discipline to undertake this constantly is a key part of always being prepared, which was discussed earlier.

That which you don’t use regularly, you lose. So training on a daily basis is the price for maintaining everything that you have worked so hard to build.

15. Embrace Simplicity and Discipline

In Hagakure, Yamamoto talks about the danger of luxury, comfort, and laziness. He believed that these things weaken resolve, cloud the spirit, and distract from one’s path.

A disciplined life, on the other hand, keeps your spirit sharp and your purpose clear.

A warrior, therefore, mustn’t be overly attached to material comforts or excess. A disciplined, simple life allows you to remain focused on what really matters, without distractions or weakness.

For the samurai, simplicity didn’t mean poverty or lacking, it meant being focused in life. It was the way to strip away anything that was unnecessary, so that all of their energy could be channelled into duty and self-mastery.

Simplicity can be achieved by exercising discipline daily, through things like rising early, training every day, regardless of mood or weather, speaking and acting with restraint, and avoiding indulgence, gossip, or idle talk.

16. Lead by Example, Not Authority

A true leader doesn’t demand respect, she earns it through her actions.

Yamamoto emphasised that the most respected warriors weren’t the loudest or the most commanding, but the ones who lived with honour, humility, and unwavering discipline.

A superior who simply gives orders to other but lacks character or courage doesn’t inspire loyalty. This isn’t true leadership.

A leader who embodies the qualities she expects of others, such as honour, bravery and discipline, for example, would be followed without question. This is the essence of influence through integrity.

17. Do Not Complain, Act Instead

Complaining about anything in life, even something you perceive as being totally unfair, achieves absolutely nothing. It’s a waste of valuable time and energy, and serves only to build a victim mentality. Feeling sorry for yourself is therefore something to actively avoid at all times.

Problems can only be solved through action.

If something is wrong, you have two choices. You can either fix it, if possible, or accept it.

Not all problems in life are within your ability to remedy. But either way, adopting a positive or accepting mindset fosters a proactive approach to life rather than pointlessly dwelling on negativity.

18. Small Daily Improvements Lead to Mastery

The path to greatness in life isn’t through sudden big leaps, but rather through consistent effort. This philosophy is known in modern-day Japan as Kaizen.

Whether it’s skill, knowledge, or personal growth that you’re aiming to achieve, small, disciplined actions every day lead to significant progress over time.

This concept isn’t always popular in the modern day, where quick and easy results are what seem to entice most people. This is an illusion, however. The only surefire way to enduring mastery of any skill or ability is through effort put in consistently over time.

There simply are no shortcuts to greatness.

19. Live Every Day as Your Last

This is an expression that’s well known in the modern age, however it’s one that can be easily misinterpreted.

This piece of advice doesn’t superficially suggest focusing on having “a good time” while we can, simply because we may not still be here tomorrow. Instead, it teaches us to be fully present and to approach each day as if it were our final opportunity to achieve our life’s purpose and live with honour, love, and passion.

When you live with this mindset, trivial concerns lose their power over you. It allows you to focus on the present and on what and who matters most in your life.

20. Keep a Calm Mind in Crisis

Yamamoto teaches us in Hagakure that a samurai is trained to remain composed under pressure, always acting with clarity and purpose. He believed that clarity, dignity, and correct action could only emerge from inner stillness, even in the chaos of violence or loss.

This is also a deeply valuable lesson for anyone navigating modern life.

Panic and fear lead to poor decisions. Yamamoto’s message teaches the importance of unshakable composure, and encourages us to develop emotional resilience to handle life’s challenges without being overwhelmed.

Constantly remind yourself and accept that you don’t control the outcome of anything in life, only your response. That should be the sole focus of your attention.

21. Reflect Daily on Your Conduct

For a samurai, life was about constantly refining the character. Yamamoto was therefore a strong advocate of daily self-reflection, and believed that courage, loyalty, and honour weren’t fixed traits, but had to be practised and evaluated every day.

In our busy modern world, many people go through life on autopilot, reacting, drifting, and repeating the same mistakes. When you make daily reflection a habit however, everything changes.

Slow down your pace and notice where you’re coming up short. Hold yourself accountable to your values, not just to rules or external expectations. Recognise patterns in your behaviour, both good and bad, so that you can change them if necessary. Ask yourself what you did well, what was dishonourable, and how to improve.

This practice of self-reflection keeps your values alive and active in your mind and your daily behaviour, and strengthens your character over time.