Quote #77

Your strategy is of no account if when called on to fight in a confined space your heart is inclined to the long sword, or if you are in a house armed only with your companion sword. Besides, some men have not the strength of others. In my doctrine, I dislike preconceived, narrow spirit. You must study this well.

More from Miyamoto Musashi

  1. It is difficult for these people to cut the enemy when at close quarters because of the length of the long sword. The blade path is large s…
  2. Whenever you cross swords with an enemy you must not think of cutting him either strongly or weakly; just think of cutting and killing him.…
  3. Some other schools have a liking for extra-long swords. From the point of view of my strategy these must be seen as weak schools. This is b…
  4. If you rely on strength, when you hit the enemy's sword you will inevitably hit too hard. If you do this, your own sword will be carried al…
  5. Some of the world's strategists are concerned only with sword fencing, and limit their training to flourishing the long sword and carriage …
  6. Some men use a shorter long sword with the intention of jumping in and stabbing the enemy at the unguarded moment when he flourishes his sw…
  7. In strategy you must know the Ways of other schools, so I have written about various other traditions of strategy in this the Wind Book.
  8. Speed is not part of the true Way of strategy. Speed implies that things seem fast or slow, according to whether or not they are in rhythm.…

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