Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary 17th-century swordsman and author of *The Book of Five Rings* (1645), grounds his philosophy in unflinching realism. His assertion that 'truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is' encapsulates a stoic attitude: reality exists independently of our preferences. In advocating for acceptance over wishful thinking, Musashi invites us to approach life—and conflict—with clear-eyed sincerity. [...]
