The more a human being feels himself a self, tries to intensify this self and reach a never-attainable perfection, the more drastically he steps out …

- Eugen Herrigel

You must learn to wait properly.

- Eugen Herrigel

The shot will go smoothly only when it takes the archer himself by surprise.

- Eugen Herrigel

Assuming that his talent can survive the increasing strain, there is one scarcely avoidable danger that lies ahead of the pupil on his road to master…

- Eugen Herrigel

You must act as if the goal were infinitely far off.

- Eugen Herrigel

Zen Buddhism does not preach. Sermons remain words. It waits until people feel stifled and insecure, driven by a secret longing.

- Eugen Herrigel

I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what the art of archery means: a prof…

- Eugen Herrigel

Don't think of what you have to do, don't consider how to carry it out! The shot will only go smoothly when it takes the archer himself by surprise. …

- Eugen Herrigel

The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake of hitting the goal, the less you will succeed in the one and the further t…

- Eugen Herrigel