Intent is what can make a man succeed when his thoughts tell him that he is defeated.

"Only if one loves this earth with unbending passion can one relieve one's sadness," don Juan said. "Warriors are always joyful because their love is unalterable and their beloved, the earth, embraces them and bestows upon them inconceivable gifts. The sadness belongs only to those who hate the very thing that gives shelter to their beings." Don Juan again caressed the ground with tenderness. "This lovely being, which is alive to its last recesses and understands every feeling, soothed me, it cured me of my pains, and finally when I had fully understood my love for it, it taught me freedom."

If you were a warrior, you would know that the worst thing one can do is confront human beings directly.

We are men and our lot in life is to learn and to be hurled into inconceivable new worlds.

As long as a man feels that he is the most important thing in the world he cannot really appreciate the world around him.

A rule of thumb for a warrior is that he makes his decisions so carefully that nothing that may happen as a result of them can surprise him, much less drain his power.

A warrior acts as if he knows what he is doing, when in effect he knows nothing.