Горазд Василевски > Горазд's Quotes

“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased. Even when your spirit is calm do not let your body relax, and when your body is relaxed do not let your spirit slacken. Do not let your spirit be influenced by your body, or your body be influenced by your spirit.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy

“Step by step walk the thousand-mile road.”
― Musashi Miyamoto, The Book of Five Rings

“Whatever the Way, the master of strategy does not appear fast.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy

“Teaching people a large number of sword techniques254 is turning the way into a business of selling goods, making beginners believe that there is something profound in their training by impressing them with a variety of techniques. This attitude toward strategy must be avoided, because thinking that there is a variety of ways of cutting a man down is evidence of a disturbed mind. In the world, different ways of cutting a man down do not exist.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Complete Book of Five Rings

“You win battles with the timing in the Void born of the timing of cunning by knowing the enemies’ timing, and thus using a timing which the enemy does not expect.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“It is necessary to know ten thousand things by knowing one well. If you are to practice the way of strategy, nothing must escape your eyes.54 Reflect well on this.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Complete Book of Five Rings

“The sword has to be more than a simple weapon; it has to be an answer to life's questions.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy

“Never fail to have this attitude of mind, go forward without hurry, learn the essence of things through frequent experiences, taking advantage of every occasion. Fight against all kinds of people and be aware of their mind. Follow a road that is a thousand leagues long one step at a time. Be without haste and be convinced that all these practices are the duty of a bushi. Be victorious today over what you were yesterday; tomorrow be victorious over your clumsiness and then also over your skill. Practice in accordance with what I have written without letting your mind deviate from the way.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Complete Book of Five Rings

“You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.”
― Miyamoto Musashi

“When you and your opponent are fighting and nothing is going right, nor is there progress, be of a mind to throw off your former intention and start entirely anew. Take on another rhythm and see your way to victory. With Renewal, whenever you think that you and your opponent are just grating along, you should change your mind on the spot and take the victory by using another tactic.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“There is a rhythm to everything, but particularly in the martial arts, if you do not train in its rhythm it is difficult to succeed.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings