Wisdom of the Ages

Wisdom of the Ages

Classic teachings from legendary philosophers and strategists across civilizations

Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵)

c. 1584 – June 13, 1645 | Japan

Legendary Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, and writer. Undefeated in over 60 duels, he authored “The Book of Five Rings” (五輪書), a classic text on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that remains influential in both martial arts and business strategy.

Musashi developed the Niten Ichi-ryū style of swordsmanship and spent his later years refining his spiritual and strategic insights.

「千日の稽古を鍛とし、万日の稽古を練とす」
English:
“A thousand days of training to develop, ten thousand days of training to polish.”
French:
“Mille jours d’entraînement pour se développer, dix mille jours d’entraînement pour se polir.”
「敵を知り己を知れば百戦危うからず」
English:
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
French:
“Si vous connaissez l’ennemi et vous connaissez vous-même, vous n’avez pas à craindre le résultat de cent batailles.”
「兵法の道は心のままに」
English:
“The way of strategy follows the heart’s desire.”
French:
“La voie de la stratégie suit le désir du cœur.”
「一つの道において、万事に通ず」
English:
“In one way, master all things.”
French:
“En une seule voie, maîtrisez toutes choses.”
「勝つということは、敵のない状態である」
English:
“Victory means being in a state where there is no enemy.”
French:
“La victoire signifie être dans un état où il n’y a pas d’ennemi.”
「真の道はただ一つ」
English:
“The true way is only one.”
French:
“Le vrai chemin n’est qu’un seul.”
「心を水の如くする」
English:
“Make your mind like water.”
French:
“Faites de votre esprit comme de l’eau.”
「兵法の極意は、敵の心を読むこと」
English:
“The essence of strategy is reading the enemy’s mind.”
French:
“L’essence de la stratégie est de lire l’esprit de l’ennemi.”
「勝つためには、まず己に勝て」
English:
“To win, first conquer yourself.”
French:
“Pour gagner, conquérez d’abord vous-même.”
「不動の心を持つことが大切」
English:
“It is important to have an immovable mind.”
French:
“Il est important d’avoir un esprit immuable.”
「すべての道は一つに通ず」
English:
“All paths lead to one.”
French:
“Tous les chemins mènent à un.”
「兵法は生きる道である」
English:
“Strategy is the way of life.”
French:
“La stratégie est la voie de la vie.”
「心を空にする」
English:
“Empty your mind.”
French:
“Videz votre esprit.”
「自然の理に従う」
English:
“Follow the principles of nature.”
French:
“Suivez les principes de la nature.”
「一瞬の遅れが命取り」
English:
“A moment’s delay can be fatal.”
French:
“Un retard d’un instant peut être fatal.”
「己の技を磨き続けよ」
English:
“Continue to polish your skills.”
French:
“Continuez à polir vos compétences.”
「真の強さは心の中にある」
English:
“True strength lies within the heart.”
French:
“La vraie force réside dans le cœur.”
「兵法は日常に活かせ」
English:
“Apply strategy to daily life.”
French:
“Appliquez la stratégie à la vie quotidienne.”
「心を静めて行動せよ」
English:
“Act with a calm mind.”
French:
“Agissez avec un esprit calme.”
「勝負は瞬間に決まる」
English:
“Victory is decided in an instant.”
French:
“La victoire se décide en un instant.”

Sun Tzu (孫子)

c. 544-496 BCE | Ancient China

Renowned Chinese military strategist, philosopher, and author of “The Art of War” (孫子兵法), an influential work on military strategy that has been applied to fields as diverse as business, sports, and politics.

A general and strategist of the Wu state, Sun Tzu’s teachings emphasize strategy over force, deception, and the importance of understanding both oneself and the enemy.

「知己知彼,百戰不殆」
English:
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
French:
“Si vous connaissez l’ennemi et vous connaissez vous-même, vous n’avez pas à craindre le résultat de cent batailles.”
「兵者,詭道也」
English:
“All warfare is based on deception.”
French:
“Toute guerre est basée sur la tromperie.”
「不戰而屈人之兵,善之善者也」
English:
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
French:
“L’art suprême de la guerre est de soumettre l’ennemi sans combattre.”
「攻其無備,出其不意」
English:
“Attack where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”
French:
“Attaquez là où il n’est pas préparé, apparaissez là où vous n’êtes pas attendu.”
「兵貴勝,不貴久」
English:
“In war, prize victory, not prolonged campaigns.”
French:
“Dans la guerre, privilégiez la victoire, pas les campagnes prolongées.”
「上兵伐謀,其次伐交,其次伐兵,其下攻城」
English:
“The supreme art of war is to defeat the enemy’s plans; next best is to disrupt his alliances; next best is to attack his army; the worst is to attack cities.”
French:
“L’art suprême de la guerre est de vaincre les plans de l’ennemi; le meilleur suivant est de perturber ses alliances; le meilleur suivant est d’attaquer son armée; le pire est d’attaquer les villes.”
「善戰者,致人而不致於人」
English:
“The skillful warrior imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him.”
French:
“Le guerrier habile impose sa volonté à l’ennemi, mais ne permet pas que la volonté de l’ennemi lui soit imposée.”
「兵形象水」
English:
“Military tactics are like water.”
French:
“Les tactiques militaires sont comme l’eau.”
「知可以戰與不可以戰者勝」
English:
“He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.”
French:
“Celui qui sait quand il peut combattre et quand il ne peut pas sera victorieux.”
「凡戰者,以正合,以奇勝」
English:
“In battle, use the normal force to engage; use the extraordinary to win.”
French:
“Au combat, utilisez la force normale pour engager; utilisez l’extraordinaire pour gagner.”
「兵之情主速」
English:
“The principle of war is speed.”
French:
“Le principe de la guerre est la vitesse.”
「善用兵者,屈人之兵而非戰也」
English:
“The skillful general subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting.”
French:
“Le général habile soumet les troupes de l’ennemi sans aucun combat.”
「投之亡地然後存,陷之死地然後生」
English:
“Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight.”
French:
“Jetez vos soldats dans des positions d’où il n’y a pas d’échappatoire, et ils préféreront la mort à la fuite.”
「兵無常勢,水無常形」
English:
“There are no constant conditions in war, just as water has no constant shape.”
French:
“Il n’y a pas de conditions constantes dans la guerre, tout comme l’eau n’a pas de forme constante.”
「善戰者,立於不敗之地,而不失敵之敗也」
English:
“The skillful warrior puts himself in a position where he cannot be defeated, and does not miss the opportunity to defeat the enemy.”
French:
“Le guerrier habile se place dans une position où il ne peut être vaincu, et ne manque pas l’occasion de vaincre l’ennemi.”
「兵者,國之大事,死生之地,存亡之道,不可不察也」
English:
“War is a matter of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied.”
French:
“La guerre est une question d’importance vitale pour l’État; la province de la vie ou de la mort; la route vers la survie ou la ruine. Il est obligatoire qu’elle soit étudiée à fond.”
「將者,智、信、仁、勇、嚴也」
English:
“The general must be wise, trustworthy, benevolent, courageous, and strict.”
French:
“Le général doit être sage, digne de confiance, bienveillant, courageux et strict.”
「勝兵先勝而後求戰,敗兵先戰而後求勝」
English:
“The victorious army wins its victories before seeking battle; the defeated army fights first and seeks victory later.”
French:
“L’armée victorieuse remporte ses victoires avant de chercher la bataille; l’armée vaincue combat d’abord et cherche la victoire plus tard.”
「兵聞拙速,未睹巧之久也」
English:
“In war, better a clumsy swiftness than a skillful slowness.”
French:
“À la guerre, mieux vaut une rapidité maladroite qu’une lenteur habile.”
「善戰者,致人而不致於人」
English:
“The skillful warrior imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him.”
French:
“Le guerrier habile impose sa volonté à l’ennemi, mais ne permet pas que la volonté de l’ennemi lui soit imposée.”

Lao Tzu (老子)

c. 6th century BCE | Ancient China

Ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, traditionally credited as the founder of Taoism and author of the “Tao Te Ching” (道德經). His teachings emphasize simplicity, naturalness, and living in harmony with the Tao (The Way).

Lao Tzu’s philosophy has profoundly influenced Chinese culture and spirituality, emphasizing wu wei (effortless action), humility, and the balance of opposites.

「道可道,非常道」
English:
“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.”
French:
“Le Tao qui peut être exprimé n’est pas le Tao éternel.”
「知人者智,自知者明」
English:
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.”
French:
“Connaître les autres est intelligence; se connaître soi-même est la vraie sagesse.”
「上善若水」
English:
“The highest good is like water.”
French:
“Le plus grand bien est comme l’eau.”
「無為而無不為」
English:
“By doing nothing, nothing is left undone.”
French:
“En ne faisant rien, rien n’est laissé inachevé.”
「知足不辱,知止不殆」
English:
“He who knows contentment is free from disgrace; he who knows when to stop is free from danger.”
French:
“Celui qui connaît le contentement est libre de la honte; celui qui sait quand s’arrêter est libre du danger.”
「大巧若拙」
English:
“Great skill appears clumsy.”
French:
“Une grande habileté semble maladroite.”
「治大國若烹小鮮」
English:
“Governing a large country is like frying a small fish.”
French:
“Gouverner un grand pays est comme frire un petit poisson.”
「天下難事,必作於易;天下大事,必作於細」
English:
“Difficult things in the world must be done while they are easy; great things must be done while they are small.”
French:
“Les choses difficiles dans le monde doivent être faites lorsqu’elles sont faciles; les grandes choses doivent être faites lorsqu’elles sont petites.”
「合抱之木,生於毫末」
English:
“A tree that fills a man’s arms grows from a tiny seedling.”
French:
“Un arbre qui remplit les bras d’un homme pousse d’une minuscule graine.”
「千里之行,始於足下」
English:
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
French:
“Un voyage de mille lieues commence par un seul pas.”
「知者不言,言者不知」
English:
“Those who know do not speak; those who speak do not know.”
French:
“Ceux qui savent ne parlent pas; ceux qui parlent ne savent pas.”
「禍兮福之所倚,福兮禍之所伏」
English:
“Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise; blessing may be misfortune in disguise.”
French:
“Le malheur peut être une bénédiction déguisée; la bénédiction peut être un malheur déguisé.”
「柔弱勝剛強」
English:
“The soft and weak overcomes the hard and strong.”
French:
“Le doux et le faible vainquent le dur et le fort.”
「大道廢,有仁義」
English:
“When the great Tao is abandoned, benevolence and righteousness appear.”
French:
“Lorsque le grand Tao est abandonné, la bienveillance et la justice apparaissent.”
「為學日益,為道日損」
English:
“In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired; in the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.”
French:
“Dans la poursuite de l’apprentissage, chaque jour quelque chose est acquis; dans la poursuite du Tao, chaque jour quelque chose est abandonné.”
「知足者富」
English:
“He who knows contentment is rich.”
French:
“Celui qui connaît le contentement est riche.”
「勝人者有力,自勝者強」
English:
“He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty.”
French:
“Celui qui conquiert les autres est fort; celui qui se conquiert lui-même est puissant.”
「大方無隅」
English:
“The great square has no corners.”
French:
“Le grand carré n’a pas de coins.”
「大器晚成」
English:
“Great vessels take time to complete.”
French:
“Les grands vaisseaux prennent du temps à être achevés.”
「大音希聲」
English:
“The greatest sound is barely heard.”
French:
“Le plus grand son est à peine entendu.”

Yoga Vasishta

c. 6th-14th century CE | Ancient India

Sage in Hindu tradition and the attributed author of the “Yoga Vasistha,” a philosophical text that presents a synthesis of Advaita Vedanta, Yoga, and other Indian philosophical traditions.

The Yoga Vasistha is a dialogue between Prince Rama and Sage Vasistha, covering topics such as the nature of reality, consciousness, and the path to liberation.

“मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः”
English:
“The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation for humans.”
French:
“L’esprit seul est la cause de l’asservissement et de la libération pour les humains.”
“ज्ञानमेव परं मोक्षसाधनम्”
English:
“Knowledge alone is the supreme means to liberation.”
French:
“La connaissance seule est le moyen suprême de libération.”
“आत्मज्ञानं विना मुक्तिर्नास्ति”
English:
“Without self-knowledge, there is no liberation.”
French:
“Sans la connaissance de soi, il n’y a pas de libération.”
“चित्तशुद्धिरेव मोक्षः”
English:
“Purification of the mind is liberation itself.”
French:
“La purification de l’esprit est la libération elle-même.”
“सर्वं ब्रह्ममयं जगत्”
English:
“The entire universe is Brahman.”
French:
“L’univers entier est Brahman.”
“अहं ब्रह्मास्मि”
English:
“I am Brahman.”
French:
“Je suis Brahman.”
“सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म”
English:
“Brahman is truth, knowledge, and infinity.”
French:
“Brahman est vérité, connaissance et infini.”
“माया विश्वस्य कारणम्”
English:
“Maya is the cause of the universe.”
French:
“Maya est la cause de l’univers.”
“ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या”
English:
“Brahman is real; the world is illusory.”
French:
“Brahman est réel; le monde est illusoire.”
“आत्मैव सर्वं विदितव्यम्”
English:
“The Self alone is to be known as all.”
French:
“Le Soi seul doit être connu comme tout.”
“जीवन्मुक्तः सदा सुखी”
English:
“One who is liberated while living is always happy.”
French:
“Celui qui est libéré tout en vivant est toujours heureux.”
“वासनाक्षयो मोक्षः”
English:
“Destruction of desires is liberation.”
French:
“La destruction des désirs est la libération.”
“अद्वैतं परमार्थसत्”
English:
“Non-duality is the ultimate reality.”
French:
“La non-dualité est la réalité ultime.”
“चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम्”
English:
“I am Shiva, of the nature of consciousness and bliss.”
French:
“Je suis Shiva, de la nature de la conscience et de la félicité.”
“सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म”
English:
“Verily, all this is Brahman.”
French:
“Vraiment, tout ceci est Brahman.”
“प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म”
English:
“Consciousness is Brahman.”
French:
“La conscience est Brahman.”
“तत्त्वमसि”
English:
“That thou art.”
French:
“Tu es cela.”
“अयमात्मा ब्रह्म”
English:
“This Self is Brahman.”
French:
“Ce Soi est Brahman.”
“सोऽहम्”
English:
“I am That.”
French:
“Je suis Cela.”
“ब्रह्म सत्यं जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः”
English:
“Brahman is real; the individual soul is Brahman itself, not different.”
French:
“Brahman est réel; l’âme individuelle est Brahman lui-même, pas différent.”
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Wisdom of the Ages – Classic Teachings from Eastern Philosophy