If you want to learn the craft of war, ponder over this book. The teacher is as a needle, the disciple is as thread. You must practice constantly.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of intention and focus in achieving one's goals, especially in conflict situations.
Miyamoto Musashi highlights that the key to successfully defending oneself or attacking is not just the physical actions of striking or parrying but the intentionality behind those actions. To be effective in battle, one must have a clear purpose and aim to defeat the opponent without becoming distracted by the techniques themselves. This principle can be applied to many areas of life where clarity of intention is crucial for success.
Themes
IntentionFocusActionSuccessBattle
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about achieving goals under pressure, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of focused intention.
More from Miyamoto Musashi
All quotes →If you fail to take advantage of your enemies' collapse, they may recover.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
One must make the warrior walk his everyday walk.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
To cut and slash are two different things. Cutting, whatever form of cutting it is, is decisive, with a resolute spirit. Slashing is nothing more than touching the enemy.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence, principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit is nothingness.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
Similar quotes
I can assure the Marquis de Chasteler that it is my unalterable determination never to set foot on any territory which acknowledges obedience to His Majesty the King of Bohemia and Hungary.
Marquis De LafayetteRead
It's true my father abused me and didn't love and protect me the way he should have, and at times it seemed no one would ever help me and it would never end. But God always had a plan for my life, and He has redeemed me.
Joyce MeyerRead
Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being.
Steven BikoRead
Among many who sought to deter me, was one dear old Christian gentleman, whose crowning argument always was, "The cannibals! you will be eaten by cannibals!" At last I replied, "Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms."
John Gibson PatonRead
There is no need to give in to the compromise that totalitarian regimes always count on.
Svetlana AlexievichRead
I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker Hill will be found equal in patriotism, courage and heroic endurance with the descendants of the heroes of Cowpens and Yorktown. For this reason I predict the civil war which is now at hand will be stubborn and of long duration.
Sam HoustonRead