Miyamoto Musashi

“Polish your wisdom: learn public justice, distinguish between good and evil, study the ways of different arts one by one.”

“Become acquainted with every art.”

“There is no one way to salvation, whatever the manner in which a man may proceed. All forms and variations are governed by the eternal intelligence of the Universe that enables a man to approach perfection. It may be in the arts of music and painting or it may be in commerce, law, or medicine. It may be in the study of war or the study of peace. Each is as important as any other. Spiritual enlightenment through religious meditation such as Zen or in any other way is as viable and functional as any "Way."... A person should study as they see fit.”

“When in a fight to the death, one wants to employ all one's weapons to the utmost. I must say that to die with one's sword still sheathed is most regrettable.”

“Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for everything.”

“It is said the warrior's is the twofold Way of pen and sword, and he should have a taste for both Ways. Even if a man has no natural ability he can be a warrior by sticking assiduously to both divisions of the Way.”

“there is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.”

“I dreamt of worldly success once.”

“When you decide to attack, keep calm and dash in quickly, forestalling the enemy...attack with a feeling of constantly crushing the enemy, from first to last.”

“1. Accept everything just the way it is.2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.6. Do not regret what you have done.7. Never be jealous.8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.11. In all things have no preferences.12. Be indifferent to where you live.13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.15. Do not act following customary beliefs.16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.17. Do not fear death.18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.21. Never stray from the Way.”

“The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things.”

“The important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but allow his useless actions”

“Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.”

“Never stray from the Way.”

“You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.”

“Do not regret what you have done”

“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world”

“Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help”

“A bullet from a gun does not make a distinction between practice and combat. You are training to be one and the same way in your life”

“The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and the only reason a warrior fights is to win”

“You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain”

“To become the enemy, see yourself as the enemy of the enemy”

“If you do not control the enemy, the enemy will control you”

“The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them”

“If you wish to control others you must first control yourself”

“You can only fight the way you practice”

“To know ten thousand things, know one well”

“It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet”

“All man are the same except for their belief in their own selves, regardless of what others may think of them”

“No man is invincible, and therefore no man can fully understand that which would make him invincible”

“Do nothing which is of no use”

“Whatever the Way, the master of strategy does not appear fast.”

“Get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of Man.”

“Do not sleep under a roof. Carry no money or food. Go alone to places frightening to the common brand of men. Become a criminal of purpose. Be put in jail, and extricate yourself by your own wisdom.”

“Know your enemy, know his sword.”

“Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.”

“It is difficult to realize the true Way just through sword-fencing. Know the smallest things and the biggest things, the shallowest things and the deepest things.”

“In the construction of houses, choice of woods is made. Straight un-knotted timber of good appearance is used for the revealed pillars, straight timber with small defects is used for the inner pillars. Timbers of the finest appearance, even if a little weak, is used for the thresholds, lintels, doors, and sliding doors, and so on. Good strong timber, though it be gnarled and knotted, can always be used discreetly in construction.”

“from one thing, know ten thousand things”

“Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy it is ...”

“In battle, if you you make your opponent flinch, you have already won.”

“Under the sword lifted high, There is hell making you tremble. But go ahead, And you have the land of bliss.”

“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.”

“You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you.”