The middle way is wise. In competition, aim past everyone.

The source

"The middle way is wise. In competition, aim past everyone." Yamamoto Tsunetomo said it in Hagakure, Book 1. Translated from the original Japanese by Spartan Surfers.

"中道は物の至極なれども、武邊は、平生にも人に乘越えたる心にてなくては成るまじく候"

Original Japanese, Hagakure, Book 1. Japanese: Hagakure, vol. 1 (1937 printing), NDL digital text.

Who said it

Yamamoto Tsunetomo (1659–1719). Samurai turned monk whose spoken reflections were written down as Hagakure, Hidden by Leaves.

Questions

Who said "The middle way is wise. In competition, aim past everyone."?

Yamamoto Tsunetomo (1659–1719). Source: Hagakure, Book 1.

What is the original Japanese?

中道は物の至極なれども、武邊は、平生にも人に乘越えたる心にてなくては成るまじく候. Translated from the original Japanese by Spartan Surfers.