Miyamoto Musashi
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.Collection: Men
If you do not control the enemy, the enemy will control youCollection: Enemy
Do not act following customary beliefs.Collection: Belief
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.Collection: War
...most warriors only perform tricks. The way of the warrior is filled with soul and feelingCollection: Warrior
Also by training you will be able to freely control your own body, conquer men with your body, and with sufficient training you will be able to beat ten men with your spirit. When you have reached this point, will it not mean that you are invincible?Collection: War
Do not let your spirit be influenced by your body, or your body be influenced by your spirit. Be neither insufficiently spirited or over spirited. An elevated spirit is weak and a low spirit is weak. Do not let the enemy see your spirit.Collection: War
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.Collection: Art
Approach the enemy with the attitude of defeating him without delay.Collection: Attitude
You can only fight the way you practiceCollection: Inspirational
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.Collection: Loss
Do not let the body be dragged along by mind nor the mind be dragged along by the bodyCollection: Mind
When you have attained the way of strategy there will be nothing that you cannot understand. You will see the way in everything.Collection: War
A warrior has no confusion in his mind...This is true emptiness.Collection: Warrior
If you wish to control others you must first control yourselfCollection: Wish
All man are the same except for their belief in their own selves, regardless of what others may think of themCollection: Thinking
The important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but allow his useless actionsCollection: Enemy
In battle, if you you make your opponent flinch, you have already won.Collection: Inspirational
If the enemy thinks of the mountains, attack like the sea; and if he thinks of the sea, attack like the mountains.Collection: Thinking
Do nothing which is of no use.Collection: Life
The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use themCollection: Art
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.Collection: Art
from one thing, know ten thousand thingsCollection: Thousand
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 thingsCollection: Determination
You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well.Collection: War
The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and the only reason a warrior fights is to winCollection: Fighting
Too much is the same as not enough.Collection: Too Much
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.Collection: Ideas
Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for everything.Collection: Understanding
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.Collection: Moving
As far as Im concerned, I regret nothing.Collection: Regret
In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased.Collection: Life
Even if a man has no natural ability, he can be a warrior.Collection: Warrior