Frasi di Miyamoto Musashi

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“Una conoscenza superficiale è più dannosa dell'ignoranza.”

“Per conoscere se stessi è necessario conoscere gli altri.”

“La percezione è forte e la vista debole. Nella strategia è importante vedere le cose distanti come se fossero vicine e prendere una visione distanziata delle cose vicine.”

“Si può abbandonare il proprio corpo, ma si deve conservare l'onore.”

“Miyamoto Musashi, Il libro dei cinque anelli, traduzione di Leonardo Vittorio Arena, BUR, 2002.”

“C'è un tempo e un luogo per l'uso delle armi.”

“La strategia è la creazione del guerriero.”

“Rispettare il Buddha e gli dei senza contare sul loro aiuto.”

“Le persone veramente abili non sprecano mai il tempo, lo fanno sempre intenzionalmente e non sembrano mai impegnate. Da questo esempio, si può dedurre il principio.”

“Ogni volta che incroci le spade con un nemico non devi pensare di tagliarlo forte o debolmente; pensa solo a tagliarlo e ucciderlo.”

“Conoscendo le cose che esistono, puoi sapere quelle che non esistono. Questo è il vuoto.”

“Lo sguardo dovrebbe essere ampio e generico.”

“Nella mia dottrina, disapprovo i preconcetti e le menti ristrette. Studia bene questo.”

“Puoi vincere con certezza con lo spirito del"taglio singolo".”

“Quando il tuo spirito non è minimamente offuscato, quando le nuvole dello smarrimento si allontanano, lì c'è il vero vuoto.”

“È difficile realizzare la vera Via attraverso la scherma della spada. Conoscere le cose più piccole e le cose più grandi, le cose più superficiali e le cose più profonde.”

“Queste cose non possono essere spiegate in dettaglio. Da una cosa, conosci diecimila cose.”

“Quello che viene chiamato lo spirito del vuoto è dove non c'è nulla. Non è incluso nella conoscenza dell'uomo.”

“La velocità non fa parte della vera via della
strategia.”

“Attuare la strategia in modo ampio, corretto e aperto.
 Quindi arriverai a pensare alle cose in senso lato e, prendendo il vuoto come Via, vedrai la Via come nulla.
 Nel vuoto c'è la virtù e nessun male.”

“The principles of strategy are written down here in terms of single combat, but you must think broadly so that you attain an understanding for ten-thousand-a-side battles.
Strategy is different from other things in that if you mistake the Way even a little you will become bewildered and fall into bad ways.”

“There is timing in everything. Timing in strategy cannot be mastered without a great deal of practice.”

“In large-scale strategy you can frighten the enemy not by what you present to their eyes, but by shouting, making a small force seem large, or by threatening them from the flank without warning. These things all frighten. You can win by making best use of the enemy's frightened rhythm.”

“You cannot profit from small techniques particularly when full armor is worn. My Way of strategy is the sure method to win when fighting for your life one man against five or ten.”

“Everything can collapse. Houses, bodies, and enemies collapse when their rhythm becomes deranged.
In large-scale strategy, when the enemy starts to collapse you must pursue him without letting the chance go. If you fail to take advantage of your enemies' collapse, they may recover.”

“The Ni To Ichi Way of strategy is recorded in this the Book of the Void.”

“When you have mastered the Way of strategy you can suddenly make your body like a rock, and ten thousand things cannot touch you. This is the body of a rock.
You will not be moved.”

“"To know the times" means to know the enemy's disposition in battle. Is is flourishing or waning? By observing the spirit of the enemy's men and getting the best position, you can work out the enemy's disposition and move your men accordingly.”

“This is the Way for men who want to learn my strategy:
Do not think dishonestly.
The Way is in training.
Become acquainted with every art.
Know the Ways of all professions.
Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters.
Develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything.
Perceive those things which cannot be seen.
Pay attention even to trifles.
Do nothing which is of no use.”

“The true Way of sword fencing is the craft of defeating the enemy in a fight, and nothing other than this.”

“This book is a spiritual guide for the man who wishes to learn the Way.
My heart has been inclined to the Way of strategy from my youth onwards. I have devoted myself to training my hand, tempering my body, and attaining the many spiritual attitudes of sword fencing. If we watch men of other schools discussing theory, and concentrating on techniques with the hands, even though they seem skilful to watch, they have not the slightest true spirit.
Of course, men who study in this way think they are training the body and spirit, but it is an obstacle to the true Way, and its bad influence remains for ever.”

“"Attitude No-Attitude" means that there is no need for what are known as long sword attitudes.
Even so, attitudes exist as the five ways of holding the long sword. However you hold the sword it must be in such a way that it is easy to cut the enemy well, in accordance with the situation, the place, and your relation to the enemy.”

“It is said the warrior's is the twofold Way of pen and sword, and he should have a taste for both Ways. Even if a man has no natural ability he can be a warrior by sticking assiduously to both divisions of the Way. Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.”

“"Treading" does not simply mean treading with the feet. Tread with the body, tread with the spirit, and, of course, tread and cut with the long sword. You must achieve the spirit of not allowing the enemy to attack a second time. This is the spirit of forestalling in every sense. Once at the enemy, you should not aspire just to strike him, but to cling after the attack. You must study this deeply.”

“In my strategy, the training for killing enemies is by way of many contests, fighting for survival, discovering the meaning of life and death, learning the Way of the sword, judging the strength of attacks and understanding the Way of the "edge and ridge" of the sword.”

“You win in battles with the timing in the Void born of the timing of cunning by knowing the enemies' timing, and this using a timing which the enemy does not expect.
All the five books are chiefly concerned with timing. You must train sufficiently to appreciate all this.”

“With your spirit open and unconstricted, look at things from a high point of view. You must cultivate your wisdom and spirit. Polish your wisdom: learn public justice, distinguish between good and evil, study the Ways of different arts one by one. When you cannot be deceived by men you will have realised the wisdom of strategy.
The wisdom of strategy is different from other things. On the battlefield, even when you are hard-pressed, you should ceaselessly research the principles of strategy so that you can develop a steady spirit.”

“Step by step walk the thousand-mile road.”

“Many things are said to be passed on. Sleepiness can be passed on, and yawning can be passed on. Time can be passed on also.
In large-scale strategy, when the enemy is agitated and shows an inclination to rush, do not mind in the least. Make a show of complete calmness, and the enemy will be taken by this and will become relaxed. When you see that this spirit has been passed on, you can bring about the enemy's defeat by attacking strongly with a Void spirit.”

“In single combat, we can confuse the enemy by attacking with varied techniques when the chance arises. Feint a thrust or cut, or make the enemy think you are going close to him, and when he is confused you can easily win.
This is the essence of fighting, and you must research it deeply.”

“From olden times it has been said: "Great and small go together." So do not unconditionally dislike extra-long swords. What I dislike is the inclination towards the long sword.”

“The three shouts are divided thus: before, during and after. Shout according to the situation. The voice is a thing of life. We shout against fires and so on, against the wind and the waves. The voice shows energy.”

“Some of the world's strategists are concerned only with sword fencing, and limit their training to flourishing the long sword and carriage of the body. But is dexterity alone sufficient to win? This is not the essence of the Way.
I have recorded the unsatisfactory points of other schools one by one in this book.”

“You can know how to win through strategy with the long sword, but it cannot be clearly explained in writing. You must practise diligently in order to understand how to win.”

“Fixed formation is bad. Study this well.”

“Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men. … Even if you kill an enemy, if it is not based on what you have learned it is not the true Way.”

“Think lightly of yourself and think deeply of the world.”

“In large-scale strategy, it is beneficial to strike at the corners of the enemy's force, If the corners are overthrown, the spirit of the whole body will be overthrown.”

“Be neither insufficiently spirited nor over spirited. An elevated spirit is weak and a low spirit is weak. Do not let the enemy see your spirit.”