Death seems to be a long way off. Is this not shallow thinking? It is worthless and is only a joke within a dream. It will not do to think in such a way and be negligent. Insofar as death is always at one's door, one should make sufficient effort and act quickly.

In this quote, Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a samurai and author of the famous work Hagakure, reflects on the concept of death and the importance of living with awareness of mortality. He criticizes the tendency to view death as something distant and abstract, describing such thinking as shallow and unwise. Tsunetomo suggests that considering death as "a long way off" is essentially a joke within the dream of life, implying that it is a naive and false way of perceiving existence.

Tsunetomo argues that negligence in acknowledging death's inevitable arrival is detrimental to one’s life and actions. His philosophy emphasizes the need to confront death directly, using it as a motivator to act with urgency and purpose. By acknowledging that death is always "at one’s door," he suggests that this awareness should drive individuals to make the most of their time, encouraging effort and swift action in all aspects of life. This belief is rooted in the samurai tradition, which valued living honorably and purposefully, without hesitation or delay.

The quote also reflects Tsunetomo's broader philosophy of living in alignment with the transience of life. For the samurai, acknowledging death was not a source of fear, but a reminder to live fully and with discipline. In this sense, Tsunetomo encourages a proactive approach to life, one that is deeply aware of its impermanence and urgency. His words call for individuals to act with intention, recognizing that life is short and that inaction or complacency is a form of waste.

The origin of this quote comes from Tsunetomo’s writing in Hagakure, a text that outlines the way of the samurai and offers practical wisdom on living a life of honor, discipline, and awareness. This philosophy, which draws heavily from Zen Buddhism, suggests that true warriors understand death as a constant presence and use that understanding to live with greater purpose and resolve. Tsunetomo’s call to "act quickly" and not waste time aligns with the warrior code of living fully in the present, always mindful of one’s mortality.