---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not act following customary beliefs."
description: "\"Do not act following customary beliefs.\" — Miyamoto Musashi"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/miyamoto-musashi-2093_belief_do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs-2_2633785.jpg"
---

#  Do not act following customary beliefs.

![“Do not act following customary beliefs.” quote by Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/miyamoto-musashi-2093_belief_do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs-2_2633785.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/miyamoto-musashi-2093_belief_do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs-2_2633785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/miyamoto-musashi-2093_belief_do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs-2_2633785.jpg)

> “Do not act following customary beliefs.”

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Avoid blind conformity; act based on personal judgment and reality.

**In simple terms:** Think for yourself.

Key Takeaway

Question tradition before acting.

Themes

independence critical thinking tradition

Mood

challenging thought‑provoking

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- business
- education
- politics
- personal growth

Key Concepts

strategic decision making personal autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you followed a belief without questioning?
- What evidence would change your mind?

A Different Perspective

Changing habits can be risky.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Act Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-following-2212331/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Customary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customary-1646011/) [Customary Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customary-beliefs-2212329/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Following Customary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-customary-2212330/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

## Related quotes

> [At Liverpool, winning is customary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/at-liverpool-winning-is-customary/)

[Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/)

> [It is not customary to love what one has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-not-customary-to-love-what-one-has/)

[Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/)

> [It is customary these days to ignore what should be done in favour of what pleases us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/it-is-customary-these-days-to-ignore-what-should-be-done-in-favour-of/)

[Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/)

> [Customs are made for customary circumstances, and customary characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/customs-are-made-for-customary-circumstances-and-customary-characters-2/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [“Slavery was as customary as prisons are today. Few could imagine an ordered world without them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibram-x-kendi/slavery-was-as-customary-as-prisons-are-today-few-could-imagine-an/)

[Ibram X. Kendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibram-x-kendi/)

> [...majority Patriotism is the customary Patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/majority-patriotism-is-the-customary-patriotism/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [“What is held real is based upon personal beliefs that drive perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-is-held-real-is-based-upon-personal-beliefs-that-drive-perception/)

[Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/)

> [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/)

[Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/)

> [I do believe in love at first sight. I believe in a lot of thing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-i-believe-in-a-lot-of-thing-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [“Your life is your statement to the world representing your values, your beliefs, your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-arenson/your-life-is-your-statement-to-the-world-representing-your-values/)

[David Arenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-arenson/)

> [People always wonder when the world is going to end. I believe that the world will end when everyone stops loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-fickes/people-always-wonder-when-the-world-is-going-to-end-i-believe-that/)

[Nichole Fickes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-fickes/)

## More by Miyamoto Musashi

> [there is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/there-is-nothing-outside-of-yourself-that-can-ever-enable-you-to-get/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/you-win-battles-by-knowing-the-enemy-s-timing-and-using-a-timing/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [Pay attention even to life's trifles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/pay-attention-even-to-life-s-trifles/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [“The heart of Stepping on the Sword, something used principally in the martial arts, is that even with bows and firearms, you must act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/the-heart-of-stepping-on-the-sword-something-used-principally-in-the/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [“When you and your opponent are fighting and nothing is going right, nor is there progress, be of a mind to throw off your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/when-you-and-your-opponent-are-fighting-and-nothing-is-going-right/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [No man is invincible, and therefore no man can fully understand that which would make him invincible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/no-man-is-invincible-and-therefore-no-man-can-fully-understand-that/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [Too much is the same as not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/too-much-is-the-same-as-not-enough/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [Respect the gods and buddhas, but never rely on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/respect-the-gods-and-buddhas-but-never-rely-on-them/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [If there is a Way involving the spirit of not being defeated, to help oneself and gain honour, it is the Way of Strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/if-there-is-a-way-involving-the-spirit-of-not-being-defeated-to-help/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/generally-speaking-the-way-of-the-warrior-is-resolute-acceptance-of/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/develop-intuitive-judgement-and-understanding-for-everything/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/people-in-this-world-look-at-things-mistakenly-and-think-that-what/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [“If you do not chase in directly toward the place where your opponents have gathered, you will not make progress. And, if you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/if-you-do-not-chase-in-directly-toward-the-place-where-your-opponents/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [The warrior is different in that studying the Way of strategy is based on overcoming men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/the-warrior-is-different-in-that-studying-the-way-of-strategy-is/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/you-should-not-have-any-special-fondness-for-a-particular-weapon-or/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

[Explore all 185 Miyamoto Musashi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

## More Belief quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“MIND &amp; GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/)

[Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/)

[Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/)

> [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

> [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/)

[Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/)

> [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/)

[David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/)

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/)

[J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/)

> [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/)

[LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

[Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Do not act following customary beliefs.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Miyamoto Musashi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Belief"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/miyamoto-musashi-2093_belief_do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs-2_2633785.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/miyamoto-musashi-2093_belief_do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs-2_2633785.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/miyamoto-musashi-2093_belief_do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs-2_2633785.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Do not act following customary beliefs.” — Miyamoto Musashi",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Miyamoto Musashi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Do not act following customary beliefs.",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/do-not-act-following-customary-beliefs/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
