Miyamoto Musashi · "Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world."

*Dokkōdō*, 1645, advising humility and broad perspective in life. · Checked on 3 March 2026

Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.

Analysis

The statement **'Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world'** (身を軽く持ち、世を深く考えよ, *mi o karuku mochi, yo o fukaku kangaeyo*) appears as **Precept 3** in Musashi’s *Dokkōdō* (*The Way of Walking Alone*), a 21-point ethical manifesto composed in 1645. The phrasing aligns with multiple authoritative translations, including those by **William Scott Wilson (1995)** and **Kenji Tokitsu (2004)**, and reflects Musashi’s emphasis on humility and strategic awareness. No credible sources dispute its attribution or meaning in context.

Background

Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645), a legendary Japanese swordsman and *ronin*, wrote *Dokkōdō* a week before his death as a distillation of his life philosophy. The work blends Zen Buddhist principles with pragmatic advice, targeting self-discipline and detachment. Precept 3 specifically contrasts ego minimization with a profound engagement with external realities—a theme consistent with Musashi’s earlier *The Book of Five Rings* (1643).

Verdict summary

The quote is accurately attributed to Miyamoto Musashi in his *Dokkōdō*, written shortly before his death in 1645.

Sources consulted

— Musashi, M. (1645). *Dokkōdō* (Wilson, W. S., Trans.). **Kodansha International (1995), *The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi*, pp. 201–203.**

— Tokitsu, K. (2004). *Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings*. **Shambhala Publications, p. 245.**

— Cleary, T. (1993). *A Book of Five Rings* (Translation of *Go Rin No Sho*). **Shambhala Classics, pp. 89–91 (contextual analysis of Musashi’s philosophy).**

— Japanese Text Initiative, University of Virginia. **[Original *Dokkōdō* manuscript (1645) digital archive](http://jti.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/)** (Precept 3: 身を軽く持ち、世を深く考えよ).