A famous quote by the military officer Isoroku Yamamoto, who fought for his homeland between ideals and anguish
Isoroku Yamamoto, the military leader known as the commander of the Combined Fleet at the start of the Pacific War and famous for directing the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Although he is said to have had exceptional foresight and a strong sense of justice, the many mysteries surrounding him—such as launching a daring surprise attack against an overwhelmingly superior enemy—and his dramatic life remain key to his popularity today.
This time, we introduce a selection of memorable quotations left by Isoroku Yamamoto.
These are timeless gems about leadership and how to live as a human being—well worth your attention!
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Quotes (1–10) by the military man Isoroku Yamamoto, who fought for his homeland between ideals and anguish
Even if a nation is great, if it favors war, it will surely perish. Even if a nation is at peace, if it forgets war, it will surely be in danger.Isoroku Yamamoto
These words express the mindset that is important for keeping a nation at peace.
Quoted from the Chinese work Yiwen Leiju, they convey the importance of a nation’s readiness and attitude.
They tell us that even a strong country is destined for ruin if it continues waging war, and that even a tranquil country will one day face danger if it forgets that war can occur.
The words urge us to carefully analyze the present situation and consider how we should proceed toward peace.
Show them how, tell them why, let them try, and praise them—otherwise, people won’t move.Isoroku Yamamoto
Here are some words I’d like anyone struggling with mentoring someone to read.
When you instruct others, first try doing it yourself and show how it should be done.
Next, explain in words how to do it, including key points.
Then tell them to try it, and only after you praise what they’ve accomplished will people truly start to move.
Coming from someone who demonstrated leadership and fought on the front lines, these words carry real weight.
I hope you’ll take them to heart.
Mediocre talent shows itself through titles; great talent is hindered by titles; small talent disgraces titles.Isoroku Yamamoto
These are profound words about the balance between talent and titles.
For those with moderate talent, having a title can sometimes bring their abilities to life.
However, for people with great talent, having a title can cause their talent and title to clash, which may end up exposing their weaker sides.
And those with small talent might waste or tarnish the title, even smearing the face of the person who granted it.
For those in a position to bestow titles, parts of this may ring true.
It’s a thought-provoking insight into whether it’s better to hold a title or to live in a way that makes use of one’s talent without a title.
Quotes (11–20) by the military leader Isoroku Yamamoto, who fought for his homeland between ideals and anguish
Everyone carries a sense of guilt or a burden. It is by trying to overcome it that we make progress.Isoroku Yamamoto
You could say this quote captures life itself.
Even if someone seems to have no worries from the outside, there are surprisingly many people who are suffering behind their smiles.
To a greater or lesser extent, everyone carries worries and is fighting their own battles.
This quote tells us that by overcoming them, we can grow—make progress.
In other words, it’s precisely when times are tough that we have the chance to grow.
If you remember these words when you’re feeling down, you might start to see hope even in the midst of suffering.
Older people must never say things like “young people these days.”Isoroku Yamamoto
Do you ever catch yourself saying things like, “Kids these days,” when commenting on what young people do? But remember, you yourself were once young, and you were probably told the same by older generations.
Instead of dismissing young people with such phrases, let’s accept them and try to find what they can do—this is the message that follows those words.
There may be times when you can’t accept what young people do, or you feel anger welling up.
Even then, rather than getting angry head-on or lamenting, follow this saying: pause, and try changing your way of thinking.
There will be times of hardship. There will be things you want to say. There will be dissatisfaction. There will be things that make you angry. There will be times you want to cry. Enduring all of these in silence is a man’s training.Isoroku Yamamoto
On the journey of life, we encounter many hardships and moments when we feel on the verge of breaking.
These very struggles are essential to our progress; they are what make us stronger.
No matter the situation, if we endure and keep moving forward, we will cultivate a stronger self capable of great achievements.
Perhaps the first step is to refuse to be discouraged by difficulties and to hold on to the resolve to keep going without giving up.
A nation does not perish from civil strife. But in war, a nation can be destroyed. To gamble on war in order to avoid civil strife is an egregious case of putting the cart before the horse.Isoroku Yamamoto
Knowing what outcomes war brings may be important for preventing future conflicts.
These words compare the results of war and civil strife, conveying how foolish it was that we headed toward war.
They warn of the danger of forming alliances to avoid a military standoff—that such actions can lead to war and even the ruin of a nation.
Rather than fixating on immediate incidents, the message questions whether we shouldn’t proceed with the future risks in mind.