“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 such crooked timber as humanity is made of, no straight thing was ever constructed.”

“Do nothing that is of no use”

“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.”

“Do nothing which is of no use”

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

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