Today’s wisdom comes from Socrates… who I think pre-dates samurai… and might have been made up by Plato. Anyhoo:
Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of – for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
The true samurai is what he appears to be (and thus probably not a politician).
Here’s a first!
Great quote, sir.
While there was a Socrates described by one of his other students, Xenophon and mocked by Aristophanes, I’m not exactly sure whether you mean that Plato’s “Socrates” was made up more-or-less out of Plato’s own ideological whole cloth or no. I suppose you could make the case…
So does that make Norman Podhoretz Reagan’s Plato?
credit is like fire, especially at 19.9%
So true. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches” Proverbs 22:2 (and God pre-dates Plato, in fact he created him!).
This ronin thought makes me think of John Hinkley, Sr. Look at how his son “extinguished the fire” in his name. I suppose the lesson there is: If your son is going to be crazy, name him after someone you don’t like.
LOL, jonag. name him after your brother.