1.
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
Accuracy is not adjustable to your wishes; it is immutable and you must accept its authority or live a falsehood.
2.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
Fury. Regulate your fury. If you harbour animosity towards others, they have power over you. Your adversary can prevail and triumph if you enable him to get you inflamed.
3.
The purpose of today's training is to defeat yesterday's understanding.
Miyamoto Musashi
The aim of today's instruction is to outstrip yesterday's knowledge.
4.
To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead
Miyamoto Musashi
To ensure success in any conflict, fight as if you have no fear of death.
5.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
Resolve that today you will surpass your prior self, tomorrow you will conquer those of inferior proficiency, and afterwards you will triumph over those of superior ability.
6.
It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.
Miyamoto Musashi
'It may appear to be a challenge initially, but everything has its own learning curve.'
7.
You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain
Miyamoto Musashi
You must realize that there are multiple routes to reach the summit.
8.
No Fear, No Hesitation, No Surprise, No Doubt
Miyamoto Musashi
Unquestioned Resolve
9.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
10.
Fixation is the way to death. Fluidity is the way to life.
Miyamoto Musashi
Attachment leads to destruction while versatility propels one to success.
11.
The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant.
Miyamoto Musashi
The way to knowledge is strewn with the remains of the uninformed.
12.
In time, all things work to your advantage when you pursue them with an open heart.
Miyamoto Musashi
Eventually, all things will be beneficial to you if you approach them with a willing spirit.
13.
Aspire to be like Mt. Fuji, with such a broad and solid foundation that the strongest earthquake cannot move you, and so tall that the greatest enterprises of common men seem insignificant from your lofty perspective. With your mind as high as Mt Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things happening near to you.
Miyamoto Musashi
14.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
15.
All man are the same except for their belief in their own selves, regardless of what others may think of them
Miyamoto Musashi
16.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
A man cannot comprehend the art he is studying if he only seeks the outcome without making an effort to fully explore the rationale of the investigation.
17.
Do not think dishonestly... Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters. Develop intuitive judgement 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
18.
You can only fight the way you practice
Miyamoto Musashi
'What you rehearse is what you will execute in battle.'
19.
True warriors are fierce because their training is fierce.
Miyamoto Musashi
Authentic combatants are ferocious due to their rigorous preparation.
20.
Whatever your determination or will power, it is foolish to try to change the nature of things. Things work the way they do because that is the way of things
Miyamoto Musashi
No matter how strong one's resolve or drive, it is imprudent to attempt to alter the essence of matters. Matters progress as they do because that is their inherent nature.
21.
Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world
Miyamoto Musashi
View yourself humbly and contemplate the world profoundly.
22.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
23.
The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and the only reason a warrior fights is to win
Miyamoto Musashi
The sole purpose of an armed forces member is to engage in combat, and the only objective of this combat is success.
24.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
Launch a swift and calculated offensive, striking the adversary first to gain an advantage and maintaining relentless pressure throughout.
25.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
26.
In battle, if you you make your opponent flinch, you have already won.
Miyamoto Musashi
If in combat you startle your adversary, you have already conquered.
27.
Accept everything just the way it is.
Miyamoto Musashi
Embrace what is.
28.
Do not waste time idling or thinking after you have set your goals
Miyamoto Musashi
Do not dally or cogitate after you have established your objectives.
29.
Step by step walk the thousand-mile road.
Miyamoto Musashi
Progress gradually along the lengthy journey.
30.
A warrior has no confusion in his mind...This is true emptiness.
Miyamoto Musashi
A warrior has no disarray in his psyche...This is genuine vacancy.
31.
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.
Miyamoto Musashi
32.
Speed is not part of the true Way of strategy. Speed implies that things seem fast or slow, according to whether or not they are in rhythm. Whatever the Way, the master of strategy does not appear fast.
Miyamoto Musashi
33.
Get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of Man.
Miyamoto Musashi
34.
Imitation is the surest form of flattery and failure. I am not interested with your talk about my ideas. I am more interested in your applying them to your life. If you do not, then you are essentially not in accord with your own mind.
Miyamoto Musashi
35.
It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet
Miyamoto Musashi
36.
No man is invincible, and therefore no man can fully understand that which would make him invincible. Even with complete and thorough study there is always the possibility of being defeated and although one may be expert in a particular form, mastery is something a man never stops seeking to attain.
Miyamoto Musashi
37.
Unless you really understand others, you can hardly attain your own self-understanding.
Miyamoto Musashi
38.
The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them
Miyamoto Musashi
39.
There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord. Similarly, there is timing in the Way of the merchant, in the rise and fall of capital. All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this.
Miyamoto Musashi
40.
Too much is the same as not enough.
Miyamoto Musashi
41.
Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.
Miyamoto Musashi
42.
If you wish to control others you must first control yourself
Miyamoto Musashi
43.
Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.
Miyamoto Musashi
44.
Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.
Miyamoto Musashi
45.
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
46.
Water adopts the shape of its receptacle, it is sometimes a trickle and sometimes a wild sea.
Miyamoto Musashi
47.
The Way is in training... Do nothing which is not of value.
Miyamoto Musashi
48.
Even if a man has no natural ability, he can be a warrior.
Miyamoto Musashi
49.
Do nothing which is of no use.
Miyamoto Musashi
50.
When you appreciate the power of nature, knowing the rhythm of any situation, you will be able to hit the enemy naturally and strike naturally.
Miyamoto Musashi
