Miyamoto Musashi Quotes

Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.

The purpose of today's training is to defeat yesterday's understanding.

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

It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.

To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead

Anger. Control your anger. If you hold anger toward others, they have control over you.Your opponent can dominate and defeat you if you allow him to get you irritated.

Fixation is the way to death. Fluidity is the way to life.

Determine that today you will overcome your self of the day before, tomorrow you will win over those of lesser skill, and later you will win over those of greater skill.

No Fear, No Hesitation, No Surprise, No Doubt

The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant.

A man cannot understand the art he is studying if he only looks for the end result without taking the time to delve deeply into the reasoning of the study.

In time, all things work to your advantage when you pursue them with an open heart.

If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything.

Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world

Accept everything just the way it is.

True warriors are fierce because their training is fierce.

Do not waste time idling or thinking after you have set your goals

Step by step walk the thousand-mile road.

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.

Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.

Even if you strive diligently on your chosen path day after day, if your heart is not in accord with it, then even if you think you are on a good path, from the point of view of the straight and true, this is not a genuine path. If you do not pursue a genuine path to its consummation, then a little bit of crookedness in the mind will later turn into a major warp. Reflect on this.

from one thing, know ten thousand things

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

You can only fight the way you practice

Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.