Although he had many friends and treated his teachers with due honor, he insinuated his stubbornness and obstinacy in the name, saying 'the inside is tender, but the outside is tough' and 'walks sideways in the world.'
「内は柔らかいが外は固い」「世を横に歩く」など、おのれの頑固・狷介をこの別号に諷したとしても、知友は少なくなく、師を遇する礼にも厚かった。