Morihei Ueshiba Quotes

Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead.

Life itself is always a trial. In training, you must test and polish yourself in order to face the great challenges of life.

True victory does not come from defeating an enemy, true victory comes from giving love and changing an enemies heart.

A warrior's mission is to foster the success of others.

There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within.

Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love.

Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment.

Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountain and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life.

Your voice is a very powerful weapon. When you are in tune with the cosmic breath of heaven and earth, your voice produces true sounds. Unify body, mind, and speech, and real techniques will emerge.

The heart of a human being is no different from the soul of heaven and earth. In your practice always keep in your thoughts the interaction of heaven and earth, water and fire, yin and yang.

Even the most powerful human being has a limited sphere of strength. Draw him outside of that sphere and into your own, and his strength will dissipate.

Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.

Your spirit is the true shield.

Progress comes to those who train and train; reliance on secret techniques will get you nowhere.

Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.

When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.

Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer.

Nonresistance is one of the principles of aikido. Because there is no resistance, you have won before even starting. People whose minds are evil or who enjoy fighting are defeated without a fight.

Shihonage is the foundation of Aikido. All you ever need to master is shihonage.

The Art of Peace begins with you.

Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything.

There are times when you may be overwhelmed by the teachings of the Way. At such moments, it is important to continue with the original spirit of a beginner.

Cast off limiting thoughts and return to true emptiness. Stand in the midst of the great void. This is the secret of the Way of a Warrior.

The Samurai is the first to suffer anxiety for human society, and he is the last to seek personal pleasure.

Master the divine techniques of the Art of Peace and no enemy will dare to challenge you.

To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.

The divine is not something high above us. It is in heaven, it is in earth, it is inside us.

Create each day anew by clothing yourself with heaven and earth, bathing yourself with wisdom and love, and placing yourself in the heart of Mother Nature.

There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji, but there is only one summit - love.

Never fear another challenger, no matter how large; Never despise another challenger, no matter how small.

True victory is victory over oneself.

WHEN YOU BOW deeply to the universe, it bows back; when you call out the name of God, it echoes inside you.

The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.

If you are centered, you can move freely.

The realization of our true substance and potential is the purpose of creation.

Move like a beam of light: fly like lightning, strike like thunder, whirl in circles around a stable center

Each person is the universe from a particular perspective.

The Way of a Warrior is to establish harmony.

The real purpose of the martial arts must be to purge oneself of petty ambitions and desire, to obtain control of one’s own character.

The key to good technique is to keep your hands, feet, and hips straight and centered. If you are centered, you can move freely.

Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher.

The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit.

Your heart is full of fertile seeds, waiting to sprout.

Foster and polish the warrior spirit while serving in the world; illuminate the path according to your inner light.

Those who are enlightened never stop forging themselves.

Those who have a warped mind, a mind of discord, have been defeated from the beginning.

One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.

In a real battle, atemi is seventy percent, technique is thirty percent.

Be grateful even for hardship, setbacks, and bad people. Dealing with such obstacles is an essential part of training in the Art of Peace.

All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you.