Miyamoto Musashi
Every line we've sourced
Today, beat the person you were yesterday.
"今日は昨日の我に勝ち、あすは下手に勝ち、後は上手に勝と思ひ"
The Book of Five Rings, Water (closing), our translation from the Greek
A thousand days of practice forge you. Ten thousand refine you.
"千日の稽古を鍛とし萬日の稽古を鍊とす"
The Book of Five Rings, Water (closing), our translation from the Greek
In the fight, keep your everyday mind.
"兵法の道に於て、心の持樣は常の心に替る事なかれ"
The Book of Five Rings, Water (The Mind in Strategy), our translation from the Greek
Keep your mind wide and straight. Not tight, not slack.
"心を廣く直にして、きつくひつはらず、少もたるまず"
The Book of Five Rings, Water (The Mind in Strategy), our translation from the Greek
Perceive strongly. Look lightly.
"觀の目つよく見の目よはく"
The Book of Five Rings, Water (The Gaze), our translation from the Greek
See far things as near and near things as far.
"遠き所を近く見、近き所を遠く見る事兵法の專也"
The Book of Five Rings, Water (The Gaze), our translation from the Greek
Do nothing that serves no purpose.
"第九に役に立ぬ事をせざる事"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Nine Principles), our translation from the Greek
Pay attention even to small things.
"第八にわづかなる事にも氣を付る事"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Nine Principles), our translation from the Greek
Learn to perceive what the eye can't see.
"第七に目に見えぬ所をさとつて知る事"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Nine Principles), our translation from the Greek
Everything has its rhythm.
"物每に付拍子は有る物なれ共"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (Rhythm in Strategy), our translation from the Greek
Train so your skill works at any moment.
"何時にても役に立やうに稽古し、萬事に至り役に立樣に"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Way of Strategy), our translation from the Greek
From one thing, know ten thousand.
"一を以て萬を知る事、兵法の利也"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Five Scrolls), our translation from the Greek
Too much is the same as too little.
"あまりたる事はたらぬと同じ事也"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (Knowing Your Weapons), our translation from the Greek
Don't copy anyone. Pick gear that fits your own hand.
"人まねをせずとも、我身に隨ひ武道具は手にあふ樣に有べし"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (Knowing Your Weapons), our translation from the Greek
Water fits any vessel. A single drop, a whole ocean.
"水は方圓の器物に隨ひ一滴となり、滄海となる。"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Five Scrolls), our translation from the Greek
Beat one opponent freely and you can beat the world.
"一人の敵に自由に勝時は、世界の人に皆勝所也"
The Book of Five Rings, Earth (The Five Scrolls), our translation from the Greek
A life has many crossings. Make them like a good captain.
"人間の世を渡るにも、一代の內にはとをこすと云所多かるべし ... よき船頭の海路を越と同じ"
The Book of Five Rings, Fire (Crossing the Ford), our translation from the Greek
If the wind turns, row the last miles to harbor.
"若し風替りても、二里三里はろかぢをもつても港に着を心得て"
The Book of Five Rings, Fire (Crossing the Ford), our translation from the Greek
Twice, maybe. Never the same move three times.
"同じ事二度は是非に及ばず、三度するに非ず"
The Book of Five Rings, Fire (Mountain and Sea), our translation from the Greek
When they start to crack, don't let the moment slip.
"敵のくづるゝ拍子を得て、其間をぬかさぬ樣に追たつる事肝要也"
The Book of Five Rings, Fire (Knowing Collapse), our translation from the Greek
Stuck? Shake it off and start fresh.
"我氣を振捨て、物毎をあたらしくはじむる心に思ひて"
The Book of Five Rings, Fire (Renewal), our translation from the Greek
Tangled in the details? Suddenly think big.
"いかにもこまかなる內に、俄に大きなる心にして"
The Book of Five Rings, Fire (Rat's Head, Ox's Neck), our translation from the Greek
Become a rock. Nothing hits you. Nothing moves you.
"忽ち岩尾の如くに成て、萬事あたらざる所、うごかざる所"
The Book of Five Rings, Fire (The Body of a Rock), our translation from the Greek
Masters look unhurried, yet never miss a beat.
"上手のする事は、緩々と見えて間のぬけざる所也"
The Book of Five Rings, Wind (Speed in Other Schools), our translation from the Greek
Wisdom is. The way is. The mind is empty.
"智は有也利は有也道は有也心は空也"
The Book of Five Rings, Void, our translation from the Greek
Morning after morning, hour after hour, polish your mind.
"朝々時々におこたらず、心意二ッの心をみがき"
The Book of Five Rings, Void, our translation from the Greek
When the clouds of confusion clear, that is true emptiness.
"迷ひの雲の晴たる所こそ、實の空と知るべき也"
The Book of Five Rings, Void, our translation from the Greek
Don't scheme for your own comfort.
"身に樂をたくまず"
Dokkodo 3, our translation from the Greek
Regret nothing you've done.
"我事に於て後悔せず"
Dokkodo 5, our translation from the Greek
Respect the gods. Don't lean on them.
"神佛は尊し神佛を賴まず"
Dokkodo 18, our translation from the Greek