Archery Quote by Eugen Herrigel
““You have described only too well," replied the Master, "where the difficulty lies...The right shot at the right moment does not come because you do not let go of yourself. You...brace yourself for failure. So long as that is so, you have no choice but to call forth something yourself that ought to happen independently of you, and so long as you call it forth your hand will not open in the right way--like the hand of a child.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel, 1948
Mastery requires releasing self‑control; true skill emerges when you let go and allow natural action.
In simple terms: Let go of ego to achieve true skill.
Key Takeaway
Practice surrender to improve performance.
Themes
mindfulness
skill
ego
effort
practice
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- Learning sports
- performing arts
- public speaking
- meditation practice
Key Concepts
Zen philosophy
flow state
self‑transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “letting go” feel like in your work?
- How can you trust the process without over‑controlling?
A Different Perspective
Letting go can be unsettling and may cause fear of failure.
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