Conquering evil, not the opponent, is the essence of swordsmanship.
Yagyu MunenoriRead
Once a fight has started, if you get involved in thinking about what to do, you will be cut down by your opponent with the very next blow.
Interpretation
What this quote means
In the heat of conflict, hesitation can lead to defeat.
This quote emphasizes the critical importance of instinctive action in the midst of a crisis. Once a confrontation begins, overthinking can lead to missed opportunities and vulnerabilities, allowing an opponent to seize the advantage and potentially result in failure.
Themes
ConflictActionInstinctDecision-MakingCrisis
In practice
Example use cases
During a self-defense workshop, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of quick responses.
More from Yagyu Munenori
All quotes βSimilar quotes
Vengeance is having a videotape planted in your soul that cannot be turned off. It plays the painful scene over and over again inside your mind...And each time it plays you feel the clap of pain again...Forgiving turns off the videotape of pained memory Forgiving sets you free.
Lewis B. SmedesRead
If you have worries, there is no better way to eliminate them than by walking them off. Just take them out for a walk. They may take wings and fly away!
Dale CarnegieRead
We must always think about things, and we must think about things as they are, not as they are said to be.
George Bernard ShawRead
Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.
Mark TwainRead
Every man who says frankly and fully what he thinks is so far doing a public service. We should be grateful to him for attacking most unsparingly our most cherished opinions.
John Stuart MillRead
Encouragement to all women is - let us try to offer help before we have to offer therapy. That is to say, let's see if we can't prevent being ill by trying to offer a love of prevention before illness.
Maya AngelouRead