Best Miyamoto Musashi Quotes & Sayings

The important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but allow his useless actions — Miyamoto Musashi

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. — Miyamoto Musashi

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 life — Miyamoto Musashi

There is even rhythm in being empty. — Miyamoto Musashi

Thirdly, the gentleman warrior, carrying the weaponry of his way. The way of the warrior is to master the virtue of his weapons. If a gentleman dislikes strategy he will not appreciate the benefit of weaponry, so must he not have a little taste for this? — Miyamoto Musashi

from one thing, know ten thousand things — Miyamoto Musashi

Do not let your opponent see your spirit — Miyamoto Musashi

It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first. — Miyamoto Musashi

The spirit of defeating a man is the same for ten million men. The strategist makes small things into big things, like building a great Buddha from a one foot model. — Miyamoto Musashi

There are many ways of understanding simple things, but generally the opposite is true for difficult ideas — Miyamoto Musashi

What I call the void is where nothing exists. It is about things outside man's knowledge. Of course the void does not exist. By knowing what exist, you can know that which does not exist. That is the void. — Miyamoto Musashi

Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death. — Miyamoto Musashi

You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you. — Miyamoto Musashi

The bow is tactically strong at the commencement of battle, especially battles on a moor, as it is possible to shoot quickly among the spearmen. — Miyamoto Musashi

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. — Miyamoto Musashi

The principle of my school is quite different. In the other schools, techniques are displayed like merchandise adorned with colors and flowers, so they can be turned into a way of making a living, which is not the true way. — Miyamoto Musashi

Then you will come to see things in an all-encompassing sense and, taking the void as the Way, you will see the Way as void.

In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom exists, principle exists, the way exists. Spirit is Void. — Miyamoto Musashi

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. — Miyamoto Musashi

When your spirit is not in the least clouded, when the clouds of bewilderment clear away, there is the true void. — Miyamoto Musashi

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. — Miyamoto Musashi

You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour. — Miyamoto Musashi

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. — Miyamoto Musashi

To know ten thousand things, know one well — Miyamoto Musashi

Never depart from the way of martial arts. — Miyamoto Musashi

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. — Miyamoto Musashi

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

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. — Miyamoto Musashi

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 ... — Miyamoto Musashi

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

If you learn indoor techniques, you will think narrowly and forget the true Way. Thus you will have difficulty in actual encounters. — Miyamoto Musashi