The Book Of Five Rings

Musashi On Being A Warrior

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• Warrior's should have a taste for both; pen and sword.

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• You should not have a favourite weapon, as to become over-familiar with one is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well.

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• The way is in training.

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• Meet your situations without tenseness, yet not recklessly.

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• Do not let your body influence your spirit and vice-versa.

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• Do not let the enemy see your spirit.

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• You must train continually.

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• Become one with timing.

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• Always chase the enemy into bad footholds.

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• Use virtues of the place to establish influential positions.

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• When the enemy starts to collapse, you must pursue them without letting go.

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• If you attempt a technique which you have previously tried unsuccessfully and failed yet again, then you must change your attacking method.

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Musashi On Leadership

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• Take into account the abilities and limitations of your people.

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• Don't ask for anything unreasonable from your people.

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• You should know the morale and spirit of your people, encouraging them when necessary.

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• When we become preoccupied with the small details, we must think about the big picture.

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Musashi On Life

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• Appreciate the power of nature and understand its rhythm.

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• When you sacrifice your life, you must make the fullest use of your weaponry.

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• Everything seems confusing at first.

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• Do not think dishonestly.

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• Do nothing which is of no use.

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• Become acquainted with every art.

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• Know the way of all professions.

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• Develop intuitive judgement and understanding an of everything.

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• Perceive those things which cannot be seen.

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• You should be determined yet calm.

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• You walk a thousand-mile road step-by-step.

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• Today is victory over yourself of yesterday.

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Musashi On Strategy

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• A strategy is having to know one thing, to know ten-thousand.

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• If you don't look at things at scale, it will be difficult for you to master strategy.

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• When people cannot deceive you, you will have realised the wisdom of strategy.

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• In all forms of strategy, it's essential to maintain your combat stance.

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• In strategy, it's important to see distant things are if they were close. And, to take a distanced view of close things.

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• You cannot beat a person using their method.

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• You can win quickly by taking the lead.

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• People are always under the impression that the enemy is strong, hence become cautious.

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• Put yourself in the enemy's position.

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• When you cannot see the enemy, indicate you're going to attack to discover their resources.

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• The essence of strategy is to bring about the oppositions speedy downfall.

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• Your opponent must not influence you.

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• Distinguish between gain and loss.