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.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Disorder causes collapse; pursue weakness immediately before recovery.
- In plain terms
- When things fall apart, act fast to win.
- What can you take from it?
- Seize opportunities when opponents show weakness.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you know when an enemy is truly weak?
- What happens if you hesitate?
Another view
Pursuit can fail if the enemy was pretending to collapse.
More from Miyamoto Musashi
'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…
Permalink to quote #52 'To release four hands' is used when you and the enemy are contending with the same spirit, and the issue cannot be decided. Abandon this spirit and win throug…
Permalink to quote #54 'To tread down the sword' is a principle often used in strategy. First, in large-scale strategy, when the enemy first discharges bows and guns and then attacks…
Permalink to quote #51
Related quotes
Gentlemen, when the enemy is committed to a mistake we must not interrupt him too soon.
Horatio NelsonHoratio Nelson quote #29 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 …
Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto Musashi quote #56 Many things can cause a loss of balance. One cause is danger, another is hardship, and another is surprise. You must research this. In large-scale strategy it …
Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto Musashi quote #57