Ito Hirobumi's Quotes

The followings are two Ito Hirobumi's Quotes easily found by internet search in English.

"I regard religion itself as quite unnecessary
for a nation's life; science is far above
superstition; and what is religion, Buddhism
or Christianity, but superstition, and therefore
a possible source of weakness to a nation?"


"Since government is concerned with
the administration of the country as
a whole it does not follow that its acts
are always favorable to all individuals."


Japanese Wiki on Ito Hirobumi shows some more his interesting quotes. See below with my translation.

• 「大いに屈する人を恐れよ、いかに剛にみゆるとも、言動に余裕と味のない人は大事をなすにたらぬ」

Respect those who bend. Those who have no relaxation and taste in their saying and doing no matter how they seem strong they will not do any big thing.

• 「今日の学問は全て皆、実学である。昔の学問は十中八九までは虚学である」

The current studies are all real while the studies in the past are almost all of them are not real.

• 「いやしくも天下に一事一物を成し遂げようとすれば、命懸けのことは始終ある。依頼心を起こしてはならぬ。自力 でや れ」

If you want to do something to change your nation you will often face a chance of risking your life. Do not rely on others, do it by yourself.

• 「お前に何でも俺の志を継げよと無理は言はぬ。持って生まれた天分ならば、たとえお前が乞食になったとて、俺は 決し て悲 しま ぬ。 金持 ちになったとて、喜びもせぬ」

I will not order you to follow my way. If you are so destined, I will not feel sorry even if you become a beggar and will not feel pleased either even if you become rich.

• 「たとえここで学問をして業が成っても、自分の生国が亡びては何の為になるか」

Even if you succeed in study and business if your nation collapses what is your success for?

• 「本当の愛国心とか勇気とかいうものは、肩をそびやかしたり、目を怒らしたりするよう なも ので はな い」

Real patriotism is not showing off courage by swinging the shoulders with raged eyes.

• 「国の安危存亡に関係する外交を軽々しく論じ去つて、何でも意の如く出来るが如くに思ふのは、多くは実験のない 人の 空論 であ る」

Superficially speaking on the diplomacy related with the life an death of your own nation and considering that you can do anything as you like is mere void logic of inexperienced people.


This research may continue.


sptt