„Because you can win quickly by taking the lead, it is one of the most important things in strategy. There are several things involved in taking the lead. You must make the best of the situation, see through the enemy’s spirit so that you grasp his strategy and defeat him. It is impossible to write about this in detail.“

— Miyamoto Musashi
„Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.“
— Noam Chomsky
„In large-scale strategy you can frighten the enemy not by what you present to their eyes, but by shouting, making a small force seem large, or by threatening them from the flank without warning. These things all frighten. You can win by making best use of the enemy's frightened rhythm.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„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 is important to cause loss of balance. Attack without warning where the enemy is not expecting it, and while his spirit is undecided follow up your advantage and, having the lead, defeat him.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„You can know how to win through strategy with the long sword, but it cannot be clearly explained in writing. You must practise diligently in order to understand how to win.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„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 enemy is agitated and shows an inclination to rush, do not mind in the least. Make a show of complete calmness, and the enemy will be taken by this and will become relaxed. When you see that this spirit has been passed on, you can bring about the enemy's defeat by attacking strongly with a Void spirit.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„"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 through an alternative resource.In large-scale strategy, when there is a "four hands" spirit, do not give up - it is man's existence. Immediately throw away this spirit and win with a technique the enemy does not expect.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„With your spirit open and unconstricted, look at things from a high point of view. You must cultivate your wisdom and spirit. Polish your wisdom: learn public justice, distinguish between good and evil, study the Ways of different arts one by one. When you cannot be deceived by men you will have realised the wisdom of strategy.The wisdom of strategy is different from other things. On the battlefield, even when you are hard-pressed, you should ceaselessly research the principles of strategy so that you can develop a steady spirit.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„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.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„Enact strategy broadly, correctly and openly.Then you will come to think of things in a wide sense and, taking the void as the Way, you will see the Way as void.In the void is virtue, and no evil.“
— Miyamoto Musashi
„If you do not look at things on a large scale it will be difficult for you to master strategy.“
— Miyamoto Musashi