Miyamoto Musashi Quotes

108 Sourced Quotes

Strategy is the craft of the warrior. Commanders must enact the craft, and troopers should know this Way. There is no warrior in the world today who really understands the Way of strategy.
There are various Ways. There is the Way of salvation by the law of Buddha, the Way of Confucius governing the Way of learning, the Way of healing as a doctor, as a poet teaching the Way of Waka, tea, archery, and many arts and skills. Each man practices as he feels inclined.

Miyamoto Musashi
People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void. It is bewilderment.

Miyamoto Musashi
The Way is shown in five books concerning different aspects. These are Ground, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void.
The body of the Way of strategy from the viewpoint of my Ichi school is explained in the Ground book. It is difficult to realise the true Way just through sword-fencing. Know the smallest things and the biggest things, the shallowest things and the deepest things. As if it were a straight road mapped out on the ground, the first book is called the Ground book.

Miyamoto Musashi
There is a time and a place for use of weapons.
The best use of the companion sword is in a confined space, or when you are engaged closely with an opponent. The long sword can be used effectively in all situations.
The halberd is inferior to the spear on the battlefield. With the spear you can take the initiative; the halberd is defensive. In the hands of one of two men of equal ability, the spear gives a little extra strength. Spear and halberd both have their uses, but neither is very beneficial in confined spaces.

Miyamoto Musashi
When you have attained the way of strategy there will be nothing that you cannot understand. You will see the way in everything.

Miyamoto Musashi
In large-scale strategy you can frighten the enemy not by what you present to their eyes, but by shouting, making a small force seem large, or by threatening them from the flank without warning. These things all frighten. You can win by making best use of the enemy's frightened rhythm.

Miyamoto Musashi
When we are fighting with the enemy, even when it can be seen that we can win on the surface with the benefit of the Way, if his spirit is not extinguished, he may be beaten superficially yet undefeated in spirit deep inside. With this principle of "penetrating the depths" we can destroy the enemy's spirit in its depths, demoralizing him by quickly changing our spirit. This often occurs.
Penetrating the depths means penetrating with the long sword, penetrating with the body, and penetrating with the spirit. This cannot be understood in a generalization.
Once we have crushed the enemy in the depths, there is no need to remain spirited. But otherwise we must remain spirited. If the enemy remains spirited it is difficult to crush him.

Miyamoto Musashi
This is the Way for men who want to learn my strategy:
Do not think dishonestly.
The Way is in training.
Become acquainted with every art.
Know the Ways of all professions.
Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters.
Develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything.
Perceive those things which cannot be seen.
Pay attention even to trifles.
Do nothing which is of no use.

Miyamoto Musashi
If you learn "indoor" techniques, you will think narrowly and forget the true Way. Thus you will have difficulty in actual encounters.

Miyamoto Musashi
Thirdly, the gentleman warrior, carrying the weaponry of his way. The way of the warrior is to master the virtue of his weapons. If a gentleman dislikes strategy he will not appreciate the benefit of weaponry, so must he not have a little taste for this?

Miyamoto Musashi
If the enemy thinks of the mountains, attack like the sea; and if he thinks of the sea, attack like the mountains.

Miyamoto Musashi
In contests of strategy it is bad to be led about by the enemy. You must always be able to lead the enemy about.

Miyamoto Musashi
The warrior is different in that studying the Way of strategy is based on overcoming men

Miyamoto Musashi
It is imperative to master the principles of the art of war and learn to be unmoved in mind even in the heat of the battle.

Miyamoto Musashi
If you are not progressing along the true way, a slight twist in the mind can become a major twist. This must be pondered well.

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

Miyamoto Musashi
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.

Miyamoto Musashi
They speak of "This Dojo" and "That Dojo". They are looking for profit.

Miyamoto Musashi