Sen no Rikyū

“The Way of Tea is naught but this: first you boil water, then you make the tea and drink it.”

“Though I sweep the floor and wipe the dust and dirt from the vessels, what is the use of all this fuss if the heart is still impure?”

“When you have guests, think of them as if you may never see them again.”

“Treat every encounter as a unique occasion.”

“Make a delicious bowl of tea.”

“Lay the charcoal so that it heats the water.”

“Arrange the flowers as they are in the field.”

“In summer suggest coolness, in winter, warmth.”

“Do everything ahead of time.”

“Prepare for rain even when the sky is clear.”

“Be mindful of your guests.”

“The heart of the tea ceremony is the heart of the host.”

“In a small room, there is no need for a famous painting.”

“Even if you have no flowers, you can make tea.”

“In the tearoom, we are all equal.”

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”

“Harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.”