Miyamoto Musashi
In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence, principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit is nothingness.Collection: Evil
From inside fortifications, the gun has no equal among weapons. It is the supreme weapon on the field before the ranks clash, but once swords are crossed the gun becomes useless.Collection: War
When your spirit is not in the least clouded, when the clouds of bewilderment clear away, there is the true void.Collection: Clouds
No man is invincible, and therefore no man can fully understand that which would make him invincibleCollection: Men
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.Collection: Strong
Immature strategy is the cause of grief.Collection: Grief
Fourthly, the way of the artisan. The way of the carpenter is to become proficient in the use of his tools, first to lay his plans with true measure and then perform his work according to plan. Thus he passes through life.Collection: War
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.Collection: Way
Always return your weapon along the same path it traveled out on. In this way you can use it again without having to relocate and rethink our attitude.Collection: Attitude
If you want to learn the craft of war, ponder over this book. The teacher is as a needle, the disciple is as thread. You must practice constantly.Collection: Teacher
The warrior is different in that studying the Way of strategy is based on overcoming menCollection: Warrior
The way is in training.Collection: Art
In all forms of strategy, it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance.Collection: Everyday
When you cannot be deceived by men you will have realised the wisdom of strategy.Collection: War
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.Collection: Warrior
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.Collection: Life
As the innocent infant relies upon the mother for sustenance, so the innocent wanderer, following his native compassion and bliss, relies upon the natural intelligence of life to sustain him. 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.Collection: Life
You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.Collection: Integrity
Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their helpCollection: Helping
To become the enemy, see yourself as the enemy of the enemyCollection: Enemy
To cut and slash are two different things. Cutting, whatever form of cutting it is, is decisive, with a resolute spirit. Slashing is nothing more than touching the enemy.Collection: War
By knowing things that exist, you can know that which does not exist.Collection: Knowing
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.Collection: Doe
Consider yourself lightly; consider the world deeply.Collection: World
With your spirit open and unconstricted, look at things from a high point of view.Collection: Views
Cutting down the enemy is the way of strategy, and there is no need for many refinements of it.Collection: War
Crossing at a ford occurs often in a man's lifetime. It means setting sail even though your friends stay in harbour, knowing the route, knowing the soundness of your ship and the favour of the day.Collection: War
When your opponent is hurrying recklessly, you must act contrarily and keep calm. You must not be influenced by the opponent.Collection: Opponents
This is truth: When you sacrifice your life, you must make fullest use of your weaponry. It is false not to do so, and to die with a weapon as yet undrawn.Collection: War
All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this.Collection: Falling In Love
If you learn indoor techniques, you will think narrowly and forget the true Way. Thus you will have difficulty in actual encounters.Collection: Thinking
One must make the warrior walk his everyday walk.Collection: Motivational
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.Collection: Fighting
Become acquainted with every art.Collection: Art
In contests of strategy it is bad to be led about by the enemy. You must always be able to lead the enemy about.Collection: Enemy
Unless you really understand others, you can hardly attain your own self-understanding.Collection: Self
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.Collection: Spring
See to it that you temper yourself with one thousand days of practice, and refine yourself with ten thousand days of training.Collection: Practice
If you do not look at things on a large scale, it will be difficult to master strategy.Collection: Leadership
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.Collection: Crush
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.Collection: Thinking
Do not let your opponent see your spiritCollection: Opponents
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 lifeCollection: Gun
Polish your wisdom: learn public justice, distinguish between good and evil, study the ways of different arts one by one.Collection: Art
Water adopts the shape of its receptacle, it is sometimes a trickle and sometimes a wild sea.Collection: Sea
The Way is in training... Do nothing which is not of value.Collection: Training
You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.Collection: Winning
If you fail to take advantage of your enemies' collapse, they may recover.Collection: Art
Do not regret what you have doneCollection: Regret