Nick Irving’s Reviews > Shōgun, Part 1 > Status Update

“Nature is very strong with us.” Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. “Perhaps that is why we love life so much, Anjin-san. You see, we have to. Death is part of our air and sea and earth. You should know, Anjin-san, in this Land of Tears, death is our heritage.”

“But understand clearly, all of you, that my death will not remove the cause of war nor will it prevent further conflict.”

It is so simple to catch a man, he told himself. All you need to know is the right bait.

“My Master says, in war and in peace, a good enemy can be more valuable than a good ally.”

Isn’t it only through laughter we can stay human?
. . .
All aboard waited to see what would be decided. They knew they were bottled tight. Ashore disaster, ahead disaster, to wait disaster. The net would come closer and closer and then they would be captured.

You’re a cruel, cold-gutted, heartless bastard but you’ve got majesty, no doubt about that.
. . .
His soul cried out for oblivion.

“We have a saying that time has no single measure, that time can be like frost or lightening or a tear or surge or storm or sunset, or even like a rock.”

“I was just wishing we were safe at sea, that’s all.”
“Is the sea ever safe?”
“Sometimes, senhora. Not often.”

“What will you do, priest, if when you’re dead you discover there is no God, that there’s no hell and your Eternal Salvation just a dream within a dream?”

Like dew I was born
Like dew I vanish
...and all I have ever done
Is but a dream
Within a dream.