--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A certain man who was learning archery…" description: "\"“A certain man who was learning archery faced the target with two arrows in his hand. But his instructor said, ' A beginner ought never to have a secon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/yoshida-kenk-15122_archery_a-certain-man-who-was-learning-archery-f_3231658.jpg" --- # A certain man who was learning archery faced the target… ![“A certain man who was learning archery faced the target with two arrows in his hand. But his instructor said, ' A beginner ought never to have a second arrow; for as long as he relies upon the other, he will be careless with his first one. At each shot he ought to think that he is bound to settle…” quote by Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/yoshida-kenk-15122_archery_a-certain-man-who-was-learning-archery-f_3231658.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/yoshida-kenk-15122_archery_a-certain-man-who-was-learning-archery-f_3231658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/yoshida-kenk-15122_archery_a-certain-man-who-was-learning-archery-f_3231658.jpg) > ““A certain man who was learning archery faced the target with two arrows in his hand. But his instructor said, ' A beginner ought never to have a second arrow; for as long as he relies upon the other, he will be careless with his first one. At each shot he ought to think that he is bound to settle it with this particular shaft at any cost.' Doubtless he would not intentionally act foolishly before his instructor with one arrow, when he has but a couple. But, though he may not himself realize that he is being careless, his teacher knows it. You should bear this advice in mind on every occasion. (In the same way) he who follows the path of learning thinks confidently in the evening that the morning is coming, and in the morning that the evening is coming, and that he will then have plenty of time to study more carefully ; less likely still is he to recognize the waste of a single moment. How hard indeed is it to do a thing at once-now, the instant that you think of it !”” [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on one task at a time prevents reliance on backup plans and wastes time; single‑tasking yields mastery. **In simple terms:** Focus on one task fully. Key Takeaway Avoid multitasking, concentrate. Themes focus discipline efficiency Mood determined serious Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - studying - project work - skill practice - time management Key Concepts single‑tasking mindfulness learning theory Questions to Reflect On - What task can you tackle with a single arrow? - How do you resist the urge for shortcuts? A Different Perspective Humans naturally drift to distraction; requires strong will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Archery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archery/) [Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrow/) [Beginner Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginner-ought-6116418/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Instructor Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instructor-arrow-6116417/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning Archery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-archery-6116416/) [Second Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-arrow-1620810/) [Single moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-moment/) ## Related quotes > [“There, arrows are thrown slowly — but they hurt. The first arrow comes from a one-sided decision — as though only one voice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wibowo/there-arrows-are-thrown-slowly-but-they-hurt-the-first-arrow-comes/) [Tommy Wibowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wibowo/) > [ “\[I\]f an arrow hits you, you will feel pain in that part of your body where the arrow hit; and then if a second… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/i-f-an-arrow-hits-you-you-will-feel-pain-in-that-part-of-your-body/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/i-must-only-warn-you-of-one-thing-you-have-become-a-different-person/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [I do love archery in my day-to-day life because I find it very therapeutic, and I've trained every season with the bow and arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-leslie/i-do-love-archery-in-my-day-to-day-life-because-i-find-it-very/) [Rose Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-leslie/) > [Archery requires very sensitive muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-dong-hyun/archery-requires-very-sensitive-muscles/) [Im Dong-Hyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-dong-hyun/) > [“The right art," cried the Master, "is purposeless, aimless! The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/the-right-art-cried-the-master-is-purposeless-aimless-the-more/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [Attempts are found in domains of human performance, such as sports, games, artistic domains, professional domains like medicine and the law, and so on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/attempts-are-found-in-domains-of-human-performance-such-as-sports/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [If you understand real practice, then archery or other activities can be zen. If you don't understand how to practice archery in its true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/if-you-understand-real-practice-then-archery-or-other-activities-can/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“I'm not sure why anyone on the face of the planet would want to use a bow and arrow. I mean, it seems like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-m-not-sure-why-anyone-on-the-face-of-the-planet-would-want-to-use-a/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [In the case of archery, the hitter and the hit are no longer two opposing objects, but are one reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/in-the-case-of-archery-the-hitter-and-the-hit-are-no-longer-two/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [The main thing about archery is a battle with yourself. You can ruin it all. Once you have learned the technique, the point is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle-with-yourself-you-can-ruin/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [The Roman goddess Diana, you know, is usually shown with a bow and arrow. Every first-year Latin student knows that. I still remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/the-roman-goddess-diana-you-know-is-usually-shown-with-a-bow-and/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [You have to relax when you're shooting an arrow. You can't be tense. And that just helps, in your day-to-day life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/you-have-to-relax-when-you-re-shooting-an-arrow-you-can-t-be-tense/) [Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/) > [Famous archer, Howard Hill won all of the 267 archery contests he entered. He could hit a bullseye at 50 feet, then split first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/famous-archer-howard-hill-won-all-of-the-267-archery-contests-he/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I am a very good archer. I use archery as my way of meditation. I cannot sit down and just meditate in the classical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-am-a-very-good-archer-i-use-archery-as-my-way-of-meditation-i/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Yoshida Kenko > [It is a most wonderful comfort to sit alone beneath a lamp, book spread before you, and commune with someone from the past whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/it-is-a-most-wonderful-comfort-to-sit-alone-beneath-a-lamp-book/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [One should write not unskillfully in the running hand, be able to sing in a pleasing voice and keep good time to music; and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/one-should-write-not-unskillfully-in-the-running-hand-be-able-to-sing/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [The true criminal must be defined as a man who commits a crime though he is as decently fed and clothed as others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/the-true-criminal-must-be-defined-as-a-man-who-commits-a-crime-though/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [“In everything, no matter what it may be, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete makes it interesting, and gives one the feeling that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/in-everything-no-matter-what-it-may-be-uniformity-is-undesirable/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [There is nothing finer than to be alone with nothing to distract you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/there-is-nothing-finer-than-to-be-alone-with-nothing-to-distract-you/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [“It is a great error to be superior to others…It is such pride as this that makes a man appear a fool, makes him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/it-is-a-great-error-to-be-superior-to-others-it-is-such-pride-as-this/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [“The pleasantest of all diversions is to sit alone under a lamp, a book spread out before you, and to make friends with people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/the-pleasantest-of-all-diversions-is-to-sit-alone-under-a-lamp-a-book/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [In everything, no matter what it may be, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete makes it interesting, and gives one the feeling that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/in-everything-no-matter-what-it-may-be-uniformity-is-undesirable-2/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [“If you must take care that your opinions do not differ in the least from those of the person with whom you are talking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/if-you-must-take-care-that-your-opinions-do-not-differ-in-the-least/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [“Jos kaiken aikaa täytyy varoa olemasta eri mieltä keskustelukumppaninsa kanssa, tuntuu kuin loppujen lopuksi olisi aivan yksin. But such a man there cannot be;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/jos-kaiken-aikaa-t-ytyy-varoa-olemasta-eri-mielt/) [Yoshida Kenkō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [“It is a fine thing when a man who thoroughly understands a subject is unwilling to open his mouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/it-is-a-fine-thing-when-a-man-who-thoroughly-understands-a-subject-is/) [Yoshida Kenkō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [“Well! Being born into this world there are, I suppose, many aims which we may strive to attain. The Imperial Throne of the Mikado…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/well-being-born-into-this-world-there-are-i-suppose-many-aims-which/) [Yoshida Kenkō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [“As a rule the tales which get abroad in the world are false. . . . People always exaggerate things. More so, when months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/as-a-rule-the-tales-which-get-abroad-in-the-world-are-false-people/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [What a strange, demented feeling it gives me when I realize I have spent whole days before this ink stone, with nothing better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/what-a-strange-demented-feeling-it-gives-me-when-i-realize-i-have/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) > [On a moonlit night, after a snowfall, or under cherry blossoms, it adds to our pleasure if, while chatting at our ease, we bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshida-kenk/on-a-moonlit-night-after-a-snowfall-or-under-cherry-blossoms-it-adds/) [Yoshida Kenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) [Explore all 31 Yoshida Kenko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshida-kenk/) ## More Archery quotes > [I did archery when I was in high school. In our gym class we had two weeks of archery, and I remember taking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-did-archery-when-i-was-in-high-school-in-our-gym-class-we-had-two/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [But you must be patient and careful; nor should you expect to become an accomplished archer without long and severe training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-thompson/but-you-must-be-patient-and-careful-nor-should-you-expect-to-become/) [Maurice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-thompson/) > [A very enjoyable meditation on the curious thing called 'Zen' -not the Japanese religious tradition but rather the Western clich of Zen that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gardner/a-very-enjoyable-meditation-on-the-curious-thing-called-zen-not-the/) [Alexander Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gardner/) > [“Don't think of what you have to do, don't consider how to carry it out!" he exclaimed. "The shot will only go smoothly when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/don-t-think-of-what-you-have-to-do-don-t-consider-how-to-carry-it-out/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [“How do you have an armed siege without guns?’ ‘She used Olympic standard archery equipment,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livia-day/how-do-you-have-an-armed-siege-without-guns-she-used-olympic-standard/) [Livia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livia-day/) > [I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/i-must-only-warn-you-of-one-thing-you-have-become-a-different-person/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [The No. 1 rule in duck hunting is to go where the ducks are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jase-robertson/the-no-1-rule-in-duck-hunting-is-to-go-where-the-ducks-are/) [Jase Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jase-robertson/) > [Famous archer, Howard Hill won all of the 267 archery contests he entered. He could hit a bullseye at 50 feet, then split first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/famous-archer-howard-hill-won-all-of-the-267-archery-contests-he/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [And one more thing. About my name — Artemis — you were right. In London, it is generally a female name, after the Greek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/and-one-more-thing-about-my-name-artemis-you-were-right-in-london-it/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [You have to relax when you're shooting an arrow. You can't be tense. And that just helps, in your day-to-day life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/you-have-to-relax-when-you-re-shooting-an-arrow-you-can-t-be-tense/) [Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/) > [If a shot aimed at aptness succeeds aptly, it is then fully apt, since it is not only apt but also aptly apt. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/if-a-shot-aimed-at-aptness-succeeds-aptly-it-is-then-fully-apt-since/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [All my playmates were black. I lived in a little community called Archery (ph) in a rural area. And I didn't have any white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/all-my-playmates-were-black-i-lived-in-a-little-community-called/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [So long as the new moon returns in heaven a bent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of archery keep hold in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-thompson/so-long-as-the-new-moon-returns-in-heaven-a-bent-beautiful-bow-so/) [Maurice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-thompson/) > [The only time I got the absolute most insanely nervous in my life was at the Olympic trials, because archery is a horrible spectator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/the-only-time-i-got-the-absolute-most-insanely-nervous-in-my-life-was/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [“Seniors get to do all the jolly things," Owen complained as they walked to archery practice that first day. Neal glared at the chubby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/seniors-get-to-do-all-the-jolly-things-owen-complained-as-they-walked/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) [Browse all 84 Archery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A certain man who was learning archery faced the target with two arrows in his hand. But his instructor said, ' A beginner ought never to have a second arrow; for as long as he relies upon the other, he will be careless with his first one. At each shot he ought to think that he is bound to settle it with this particular shaft at any cost.' Doubtless he would not intentionally act foolishly before his instructor with one arrow, when he has but a couple. But, though he may not himself realize that he is being careless, his teacher knows it. You should bear this advice in mind on every occasion. (In the same way) he who follows the path of learning thinks confidently in the evening that the morning is coming, and in the morning that the evening is coming, and that he will then have plenty of time to study more carefully ; less likely still is he to recognize the waste of a single moment. 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