--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In sum, it is not good to let the hand or…" description: "\"“In sum, it is not good to let the hand or the sword become fixed or frozen.87 A fixed hand is a dead hand; a hand that does not become fixed is alive...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65f/miyamoto-musashi-2093_hand_in-sum-it-is-not-good-to-let-the-hand-or_2358435.jpg" --- # In sum, it is not good to let the hand or the sword become… ![“In sum, it is not good to let the hand or the sword become fixed or frozen.87 A fixed hand is a dead hand; a hand that does not become fixed is alive. It is necessary to master this well.” quote by Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65f/miyamoto-musashi-2093_hand_in-sum-it-is-not-good-to-let-the-hand-or_2358435.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65f/miyamoto-musashi-2093_hand_in-sum-it-is-not-good-to-let-the-hand-or_2358435.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65f/miyamoto-musashi-2093_hand_in-sum-it-is-not-good-to-let-the-hand-or_2358435.jpg) > ““In sum, it is not good to let the hand or the sword become fixed or frozen.87 A fixed hand is a dead hand; a hand that does not become fixed is alive. It is necessary to master this well.”” [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. A rigid stance or weapon becomes ineffective; flexibility keeps one alive and skilled. **In simple terms:** Flexibility beats rigidity. Key Takeaway Stay adaptable in skill and mindset. Themes martial arts strategy adaptability Mood determined focused Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - combat - business negotiations - creative problem solving Key Concepts Zen fluidity Questions to Reflect On - When is firmness necessary? - How to balance flexibility with purpose? A Different Perspective Over‑flexibility can lead to indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-hand-2173343/) [Fixed Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed-hand-5766930/) [Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand/) [Hand Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-sword-1828372/) [Sword Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword-fixed-5766931/) ## Related quotes > [I'm free when I'm dead until then my hand will always be forced to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/i-m-free-when-i-m-dead-until-then-my-hand-will-always-be-forced-to-act/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [You'd have to get my money out of my cold dead hand before I gambled it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-donnelly/you-d-have-to-get-my-money-out-of-my-cold-dead-hand-before-i-gambled/) [Declan Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-donnelly/) > [Occasionally even young children should listen to the sword can not work hand and hand sword can not work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/occasionally-even-young-children-should-listen-to-the-sword-can-not/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“A hand with a sword is a dirty hand; a man with a gun is a coward man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-hand-with-a-sword-is-a-dirty-hand-a-man-with-a-gun-is-a-coward-man/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [All you can hold in your cold dead hand is what you have given away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-miller/all-you-can-hold-in-your-cold-dead-hand-is-what-you-have-given-away/) [Joaquin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-miller/) > [“Derek was telling her something about a hand in a box. It was a dead hand. Why the hell did he have to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-andrews/derek-was-telling-her-something-about-a-hand-in-a-box-it-was-a-dead/) [Gordon Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-andrews/) > [“Dead by her hand. All dead. The price of her freedom? Chung-Cha’s soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/dead-by-her-hand-all-dead-the-price-of-her-freedom-chung-cha-s-soul/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [Japan is dealing us a dead hand. For two years we have watched the Japanese drag their feet and we can't let them continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-l-thomas/japan-is-dealing-us-a-dead-hand-for-two-years-we-have-watched-the/) [Craig L. 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It's a dead hand against a living will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-ll-take-that-challenge-it-s-a-dead-hand-against-a-living-will/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The dead hand has too long hampered the freedom of the living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-robertson/the-dead-hand-has-too-long-hampered-the-freedom-of-the-living/) [James Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-robertson/) > [“He reached over for her hand. "I'm here for you. What's mine is yours. I'll share everything I have with you - knowledge, money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gray/he-reached-over-for-her-hand-i-m-here-for-you-what-s-mine-is-yours-i/) [Amanda Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gray/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) ## 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 Hand quotes > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [“He reached over for her hand. "I'm here for you. What's mine is yours. I'll share everything I have with you - knowledge, money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gray/he-reached-over-for-her-hand-i-m-here-for-you-what-s-mine-is-yours-i/) [Amanda Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gray/) > [I really believe if GSP and Silva fight, Georges will have his hand raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-really-believe-if-gsp-and-silva-fight-georges-will-have-his-hand/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Me seeing how thick my callous is on my hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/me-seeing-how-thick-my-callous-is-on-my-hand/) [Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/) > [Music and the WWE go hand-in-hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/music-and-the-wwe-go-hand-in-hand/) [Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/) > [I still find it absurdly difficult to concentrate on a novel if there's a phone or computer to hand; I have taken to locking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-still-find-it-absurdly-difficult-to-concentrate-on-a-novel-if-there/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Looking back now, thinking about that moment in the lights, with my heart pounding, Oscar in my hand, all I can say is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/looking-back-now-thinking-about-that-moment-in-the-lights-with-my/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [As a layperson, I consider myself fairly well-educated in terms of politics. My family always has been really interested in politics, and various members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/as-a-layperson-i-consider-myself-fairly-well-educated-in-terms-of/) [Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/) > [Being authentic can be a good thing in that often people who are fixated on that are also fixated on having very high standards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-meyer/being-authentic-can-be-a-good-thing-in-that-often-people-who-are/) [Edgar Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-meyer/) > [“You mean you don't want to come in and hold my hand while I piss?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/you-mean-you-don-t-want-to-come-in-and-hold-my-hand-while-i-piss/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. 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