Good reading

"The compromise climate of the times arises from the fact that those who try to live beautifully and die beautifully are actually choosing an unsightly death, whereas those who wish to live horribly and die horribly are choosing a beautiful way of life. Hagakure pronounces a delightful verdict on this question of life and death. Here again is the most famous line in Hagakure: 'I found that the way of the samurai is death' Jocho goes on to say, 'in a life and death crisis, simply settle it by deciding on immediate death. There is nothing complicated about it. Just brace yourself and proceed' (book one)"
Mishima on Hagakure [the samurai ethic and modern Japan]