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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.

Miyamoto Musashi

From *The Book of Five Rings* (*Go Rin No Sho*), completed in 1645, a treatise on strategy, tactics, and philosophy. · Gecheckt op 3 maart 2026
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.

Analyse

The statement matches verbatim (in translation) the foundational principles Musashi outlines in *The Book of Five Rings*, particularly his emphasis on honesty, broad skill acquisition, discernment, and purposeful action. Multiple reputable translations (e.g., by Victor Harris, Thomas Cleary) confirm this phrasing as part of Musashi’s nine core precepts. No credible sources dispute its authenticity or attribution. The passage’s philosophical tone aligns with Musashi’s Zen-influenced strategic teachings.

Achtergrond

Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645) was a legendary Japanese swordsman and *ronin* who wrote *The Book of Five Rings* in his final years as a guide to martial strategy and self-mastery. The text blends tactical advice with Zen Buddhist and Confucian principles, addressing both combat and life philosophy. The quoted lines appear in the *Ground Book*, the treatise’s introductory section, setting the ethical and practical framework for his teachings.

Samenvatting verdict

The quoted passage is accurately attributed to Miyamoto Musashi’s *The Book of Five Rings* (1645), specifically from the opening of *The Ground Book* (*Chi no Maki*).

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— Musashi, Miyamoto. *The Book of Five Rings* (Trans. Victor Harris). Overlook Press, 1974. **pp. 25–26** (Original: *Go Rin No Sho*, 1645).
— Cleary, Thomas (Trans.). *The Book of Five Rings*. Shambhala, 1993. **pp. 15–16**.
— Wilson, William Scott. *The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi*. Kodansha, 2004. **pp. 210–215** (Context on *Go Rin No Sho*’s composition).
— Stanley-Baker, Michael. *Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings*. Floating World Editions, 2019. **pp. 187–190** (Analysis of the *Ground Book*’s precepts).