“The Way of battles is the same for man to man fights and for ten thousand a side battles.”

— Miyamoto Musashi, Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings), The Fire Book (1645)

About Miyamoto Musashi

1584 – 1645

Japanese swordsman and author of "The Book of Five Rings".

“You must practise diligently in order to understand how to win.”

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

“There is no fast way of wielding the long sword.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”