35 Inspirational Miyamoto Musashi Quotes On Success

Miyamoto Musashi was a Japanese swordsman, philosopher, writer, and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent and unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels (next is 33 by Itō Ittōsai). He was the founder of the Niten-Ichi-Ryū-School or Nito-Ichi-ryū style of swordsmanship and in his final years authored The Book of Five Rings (五輪の書 Go Rin No Sho), and Dokkōdō (The Path of Aloneness). Both documents were given to Terao Magonojō, the most important of Musashi’s students, seven days before Musashi’s death. The Book of Five Rings deals primarily with the character of his Niten-Ichi-Ryū-School in a concrete sense e.g. his own practical martial art and its generic significance; The Path of Aloneness, on the other hand, deals with the ideas that lie behind it, as well as his life’s philosophy in a few short aphoristic sentences. May his quotes inspire you to live a life of self-discipline so that you may live your dreams.

1. “Determine that today you will overcome yourself of the day before, tomorrow you will win over those of lesser skill, and later you will win over those of greater skill.” Miyamoto Musashi

2. “Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.” Miyamoto Musashi

3. “In fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm.” Miyamoto Musashi

4. “Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.” Miyamoto Musashi

5. “It may seem difficult at first but everything is difficult at first.” Miyamoto Musashi

6. “The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant.” Miyamoto Musashi

7. “Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.” Miyamoto Musashi

8. “Do not let the body be dragged along by mind nor be dragged along by the body.” Miyamoto Musashi

9. “Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior.” Miyamoto Musashi

10. “If you wish to control others you must first control yourself.” Miyamoto Musashi

11. “Control your anger. If you hold anger toward others, they have control over you. Your opponent can dominate and defeat you if you allow him to get you irritated.” Miyamoto Musashi

12. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” Miyamoto Musashi

13. “When you attain the Way of strategy there will not be one thing you cannot see. You must study hard.” Miyamoto Musashi

14. “The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time.” Miyamoto Musashi

15. “If you know the Way broadly, you will see it in everything.” Miyamoto Musashi

16. “Do nothing which is of no use.” Miyamoto Musashi

17. “Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.” Miyamoto Musashi

18. “Never accept an inferior position to anyone. It is the strongest spirit that wins, not the most expensive sword.” Miyamoto Musashi

19. “You must not be influenced by the opponent.” Miyamoto Musashi

20. “You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain.” Miyamoto Musashi

21. “When you cannot be deceived by me, you will have realized the wisdom of strategy.” Miyamoto Musashi

22. “The approach to combat and everyday life should be the same.” Miyamoto Musashi

23. “Get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of man.” Miyamoto Musashi

24. “Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.” Miyamoto Musashi

25. “To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead.” Miyamoto Musashi

26. “No fear, no hesitation, no surprise, no doubt.” Miyamoto Musashi

27. “The Way is in training.” Miyamoto Musashi

28. “With your spirit open and unconstricted, look at things from a high point of view.” Miyamoto Musashi

29. “A man cannot understand the art he is studying if he only looks for the end result without taking the time to delve deeply into the reasoning of the study.” Miyamoto Musashi

30. “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.” Miyamoto Musashi

31. “You can only fight the way you practice.” Miyamoto Musashi

32. “One thousand days of lessons for discipline; ten thousand days of lessons for mastery.” Miyamoto Musashi

33. “If there isn’t discipline, how can there be a true realization of an ideal?” Miyamoto Musashi

34. “One must make the warrior walk his everyday walk.” Miyamoto Musashi

35. “I choose to live by choice, not by chance.” Miyamoto Musashi