QuoteProject
You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.
Miyamoto Musashi
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Maintaining one's honor is more important than physical existence.

Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary swordsman, emphasizes the significance of personal honor over the mere survival of the body. This quote suggests that one's reputation and moral integrity hold greater value than life itself, highlighting the warrior's code and the importance of living a life of principles and values.

Themes

HonorIntegrityLifePrinciplesWarrior

In practice

Example use cases

During a commencement speech, a leader might use this quote to inspire graduates to uphold their values.

More from Miyamoto Musashi

If you want to learn the craft of war, ponder over this book. The teacher is as a needle, the disciple is as thread. You must practice constantly.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
If you fail to take advantage of your enemies' collapse, they may recover.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
One must make the warrior walk his everyday walk.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
To cut and slash are two different things. Cutting, whatever form of cutting it is, is decisive, with a resolute spirit. Slashing is nothing more than touching the enemy.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.
Miyamoto MusashiRead
In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence, principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit is nothingness.
Miyamoto MusashiRead

Similar quotes

My goal is to be one with the music. I just dedicate my whole life to this art.
Jimi HendrixRead
Each activity of daily life in which we stretch ourselves on behalf of others is a prayer in action.
Richard J. FosterRead
The true leader - the genuine world-builder - lives to the point. Acutely concentrated on the few high priorities that will deliver the life of their greatest aspirations. At the end.
Robin S. SharmaRead
My greatest strength as a child, I realize now, was my imagination. While every other kid was reading and writing, I had seven whole hours a day to practice my imagination. When do you get that space in your life, ever?
Barbara CorcoranRead
We should not be so taken up in the search for truth, as to neglect the needful duties of active life; for it is only action that gives a true value and commendation to virtue.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Life is indeed terribly complicated—to a man who has lost his principles.
Gilbert K. ChestertonRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.