Top 15 Miyamoto Musashi Quotes

Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer, artist, and rōnin (1584–1645)

Miyamoto Musashi 宮本武蔵 (c. 1584 – 13 June 1645) was a famous Japanese swordsman, believed to have been one of the most skilled swordsmen in history. He founded the Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, or Nito Ryu style of swordsmanship and wrote Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings) a classic work on strategy, tactics, and philosophy.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Pen Names: 新免玄信 • 宮本二天

Alternative Names: Niten • Miyamoto Musashi Niten • Miyamoto Niten • Musashi • Takemura Musashi • Shinmen Takezō • Musashi Masana • Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu • Shimmen Musashi • Musachi • Musashi Miyamoto • Miyamoto Mushashi

From Wikidata (CC0)

1. Accept everything just the way it is.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
11. In all things have no preferences.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
17. Do not fear death.
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.
21. Never stray from the Way.

there is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.

Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world

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

Do nothing that is of no use

If you wish to control others you must first control yourself

The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them

You can only fight the way you practice

from one thing, know ten thousand things

Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.

It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet

Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.

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.

Get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of Man.

Do not regret what you have done

Top 15 Miyamoto Musashi Quotes

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