As early as the eighth century the word ronin, which translates literally as "wave-people," was used in Japan to describe people who left their allotted stations in life. Being disavowed in a society built upon rigidly defined relationships was a challenge to develop self-directedness. Dislodged from their niches, ronin were considered thrown on the waves of a difficult and uncertain destiny. Doing ronin was accepted as a spiritual trial thrust upon one by misfortune or by the order of one's bushi master. Those who passed the tests did so by following bushido, the way of the warrior, and by mastering butjutsu, the practice of martial arts.
(from Free Agents)
In all matters of discipline, one will be useless unless he has great pride. Unless one is determined to move the clan by himself, all his discipline will come to naught. Although, like a tea kettle, it is easy for one's enthusiasm to cool, there is a way to keep this from happening. My own vows are the following:
(from Hagakure, The Book of the Samurai)
We are all Wave People: