Morihei Ueshiba Quotes

Aikido is the Way of Harmony. It brings together people of all races and manifests the original form of all things. The universe has a single source, and from that core all things emerged in a cosmic pattern. At the end of WWII, it become clear that the world needed to be purified of filth and degradation, and that is why Aikido emerged. In order to eliminate war, deception, greed, and hatred, the gods of peace and harmony manifested their powers. All of us in this world are members of the same family, and we should work together to make discord and war disappear from our midst. Without Love, our nation, the world, and the universe will be destroyed.

I’m not teaching you how to move your feet; I’m teaching you how to move your mind

Failure is the key to success; Each mistake teaches us something

Never fear another challenger, no matter how large; Never despise another challenger, no matter how small.

Large does not always defeat little. Little can become large by constant building; large can become little by falling apart.

As soon as you concern yourself with the “good” and “bad” of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weakens and defeats you.

El camino de un guerrero, el arte de la política, es detener los problemas antes de que comiencen. Consiste en derrotar a tus adversarios espiritualmente haciéndolos entender la ridiculez de sus acciones. El Camino del Guerrero es el de establecer armonía

The only cure for materialism is the cleansing of the six senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind)

In Aikido, we train not to learn how to win; we train to learn to emerge victorious in any situation

The divine does not like to be shut up in a building. The divine likes to be out in the open. It is right here in this very body. Each one of us is a miniature universe, a living shrine

True Budo is practiced not only to destroy an enemy, it must also make him, or his own will, gladly lose his spirit (seishin) to oppose you. (p. 26)

When facing the realm of life and death in the form of an enemy's sword, one must be firmly settled in mind and body, and not at all intimidated; without providing your opponent the slightest opening, control his mind in a flash and move where you will — straight, diagonally, or in any other appropriate direction.

Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything.

I saw the entire earth as my home, and the sun, moon, and stars as intimate friends.

Can there really be a martial art in which one downs his attacker with a smile?

Face a single foe as if you are facing ten thousand enemies; face ten thousand enemies as a single foe