He who does not strike first will later regret it.
先に参ぜずんば後に悔いあり。
Military Strategists
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
The brilliant young commander whose daring raids destroyed the Taira clan and ended Japan's first great civil war (1159-1189). Minamoto no Yoshitsune's tactical genius at Ichi-no-Tani, Yashima, and Dan-no-ura was matched only by his political naivety — leading to betrayal by his brother and a tragic death that made him Japan's eternal symbol of the beautiful loser.
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Minamoto no Yoshitsune's Other Quotes
Related Quotes
The die is cast.
-- Julius Caesar
I came, I saw, I conquered.
-- Julius Caesar
He who defends everything defends nothing.
-- Frederick II of Prussia
I may lose a battle, but I shall never lose a minute.
-- Napoleon
God is with us! (Gott mit uns)
-- Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
In war, I have heard of clumsy swiftness, but never seen clever delay.
-- Sun Tzu