The Karate Kid: Mr. Miyagi's 25 Most Wise & Inspiring Quotes (2024)

The Karate Kid is a film that remains one of the most beloved classic martial arts movies, thanks largely to the wisdom of Mr. Miyagi's quotes. After fleeing Okinawa for the United States, Miyagi meets Daniel LaRusso, a young boy tormented by bullies at his local high school. Throughout TheKarate Kid film series, Mr. Miyagi's outlook on life in his thoughtful quotes wholly sums up his character. This is wisdom for the ages, centered around finding balance in life and striving to maintain it despite hardships.

Mr. Miyagi might not be present in the Cobra Kai sequel series, but there are enough Mr. Miyagi quotes to last a lifetime from the first three Karate Kid films. Miyagi is a humble philosopher and a man of peace. When Daniel nears the precipice, Mr. Miyagi draws him back and sets him on the right path. He had dating advice, dealing with parents, schoolwork, and the framework needed to create a stable foundation for a person's life. So many of the best Karate Kid quotes are courtesy of Daniel's sensei.

25 "Balance Good, Karate Good, Everything Good. Balance Bad, Better Pack Up And Go Home."

The Karate Kid

Daniel is struggling early on with his karate training in the first Karate Kid movie. He doesn't feel good enough and wonders if all the training in the world will help him. Mr. Miyagi sees this and sets out to give him some words of wisdom. Miyagi explains to Daniel that he needs to find a balance in his life, in his training, and in everything that he sets out to do. Without balance, Daniel would never succeed in anything — much less karate.

Mr. Miyagi bends down to talk to Daniel, sitting in his car. He explains the lessons are important because they teach balance. He said that when Daniel learns balance, everything will be good, and he will understand karate better than just learning to punch and kick without understanding. However, even with all the fight experience, Daniel might as give up karate for good if he can't find balance in life.

24 "You're Pretty Okay Too"

The Karate Kid

Not all the best Mr. Miyagi quotes are words of wisdom or advice. Sometimes, he is just funny and his humor can often come from nowhere. Daniel is growing and getting to understand Miyagi and karate better. He finally has someone looking out for him and taking care of him. With this treatment, Daniel feels something he hasn't felt before, not even before this move to a strange town with violence around every corner.

While training with Mr. Miyagi, Daniel thanks him for all the help. Then, Daniel lets his guard down and shares an emotional moment with his sensei, where he tells Mr. Miyagi that he is the best friend he has ever had. Miyagi shows pride when Daniel says this, but he also knows he needs to lighten the mood, so he delivers this perfectly said one-liner. Miyagi cares deeply about Daniel, and this response shows his respect for his protégé.

23 "Lie Only Become Truth If Person Wants To Believe It"

The Karate Kid Part II

In the second Karate Kid movie, Daniel learns that Mr. Miyagi left Japan rather than fight a man named Sato when both men loved the same woman. Sato challenged Miyagi to a fight to the death, and he refused and left. However, when Miyagi returned to be with his father before his death, Sato and his nephew Chozen. Sato demands the fight happen now that Miyagi has returned, and he still refuses to fight.

This leads Chozen to say that Mr. Miyagi is a coward. Miyagi refuses to allow the brash youngster to bait him with insults. Miyagi admits he doesn't want to fight, and it is not cowardice. However, he also explains a lie will become truth if a person believes it enough, which is what has corrupted Sato for all these years. Miyagi knows how revenge can damage a soul, and he knows the lies for Sato have been corrupted until he believes them without fail.

22 "Waah, Waah"

The Karate Kid Part III

Sometimes, the best Mr. Miyagi quotes aren't words of wisdom at all. When the time for wisdom has passed, Miyagi can also deliver some incredibly deep verbal burns to those who wrong him. This happened in the second Karate Kid movie, which starts with Daniel and Miyagi leaving the tournament. Kreese attacks Johnny after losing and Miyagi comes to his rescue. Miyagi lets Kreese injure himself and when Kreese is down, Miyagi fakes a death punch, only to boop his nose.

In Karate Kid III, Miyagi and Kreese meet up again when Terry Silver shows up to help him gain revenge. Miyagi shows up when Kreese, Silver, and student Barnes attack Daniel. Miyagi easily takes down Kreese and Barnes before fighting Silver. As they fight, Silver mocks Miyagi and karate by using insulting "Waah" sounds while posing in his fighting form. After Miyagi beats Silver in the fight, he stands over Silver and responds with the same mocking "Waah" sounds and hand movements.

21 "Just Remember True Strength Come From Inside"

The Next Karate Kid

While The Next Karate Kid was the lowest-rated of the original franchise movies, it still features some great Mr. Miyagi quotes and moments. The sensei taught the entire series not to fight unless in self-defense. In this movie, a group of violent martial artists known as Alpha Elite was almost worse than Cobra Kai when it came to violence and the evil side of karate. In the end, they attack and beat up Julie's boyfriend, Eric, and start a fight at the docks.

Julie Pierce is finally ready to fight back, and while Miyagi disapproves, he realizes she has to stand up for herself and stop her tormentors once and for all. Ned challenges Julie to fight on the spot and Miyagi finally agrees it is time for her to fight, but reminds her that it is all about reaching within and finding the strength to win. Julie used his advice and won the fight. Mr. Miyagi then beat the leader of Alpha Elite and admitted that fighting isn't good, but if you must fight, then win.

20 "If Come From Inside You, Always Right One."

The Karate Kid

Mr. Miyagi's first life lesson to Daniel comes in The Karate Kid when the directionless teen goes to thank the wise Karate master for repairing his bicycle. Mr. Miyagi invites him inside to show him how to trim Bonsai trees, hoping to capitalize on his curiosity to boost his self-confidence.

Right off the bat, Daniel doubts himself and is prepared to quit before he even tries. Miyagi tells him to focus within and trust himself. When Daniel asks how he knows the Bonsai tree image in his head is correct, Mr. Miyagi replies with this Karate Kid quote. It is his way of saying that Daniel needs to be happy with himself, before expecting acceptance from anyone else.

19 "You Trust The Quality Of What You Know, Not Quantity."

The Karate Kid

Daniel constantly worries about not learning enough, but Mr. Miyagi reminds him to exercise patience. Patience is not always a virtue for Daniel. It is more important for him to learn the philosophy behind martial arts, not simply how to punch and kick well. At first, he didn't understand that.

In the first Karate Kid film, Daniel worries about facing off against the stronger opponent, Johnny. However, Mr. Miyagi reminds him that he excels beyond just technique and that all he needs is to trust his teachings, particularly the philosophy of karate. Mr. Miyagi's quote and teachings about patience eventually get through to Daniel, since he uses the same philosophy when teaching his daughter in Cobra Kai.

18 "One-To-One Problem, Yes. Five-To-One Problem, Too Much Ask Anyone."

The Karate Kid

Mr. Miyagi knows fighting isn't like the movies. Even the best of the best gets overwhelmed by too many opponents. It is important to exercise caution. When Johnny and his friends bully Daniel, he can't fight back — and it's not just because of a lack of skill.

Eventually, Miyagi agrees to visit Cobra Kai and confront the leader, Kreese, which kicks off one of the Karate Kid franchise's best rivalries. When asked whether Daniel can take care of himself, Miyagi replies with this Karate Kid quote, which is true and a scathing jab at the cowardice of the Cobra Kai bullies. Daniel frequently fights alone while the Cobra Kai students fight in a pack, leaving Daniel disadvantaged.

17 "To Make Honey, Young Bee Need Young Flower, Not Old Prune."

The Karate Kid

This is one of the funniest Mr. Miyagi quotes, as he isn't afraid of poking fun at himself throughout the franchise. Daniel talks about the Halloween dance, and Mr. Miyagi asks if he plans to go. He says no. He doesn't want to run into Johnny and the Cobra Kai students.

Mr. Miyagi tells him he spends too much time alone, to which Daniel replies he's not alone because he has him. Mr. Miyagi knows better and realizes that young kids need each other for social development, great memories, and balance. Daniel might love his company, but Mr. Miyagi knows Daniel has to live his life with his contemporaries as well.

The Karate Kid Part III

Most of the third Karate Kid movie sees Daniel wanting to defend his All Valley title without support from Mr. Miyagi, who doesn't believe in fighting for a trophy. The first movie sees Daniel learn to protect himself and stand up to his bullies, but the young protégé quickly loses focus and instead becomes obsessed with competition. Mr. Miyagi tries to tell him the trophy isn't important and tries to persuade him not to be goaded into a fight — a lesson Daniel ignores to his detriment.

Mr. Miyagi's teaching about the trophy's lack of importance differs in the Cobra Kai series. The All Valley trophy symbolizes one teaching style's importance over another. Winning the tournament becomes a way for Cobra Kai's corrupt senseis to spread their philosophy, and the series is about a way to defeat corrupt leaders. Mr. Miyagi understands the trophy represents stopping a vicious cycle, but the trophy itself isn't important beyond this.

15 "First Learn Stand, Then Learn Fly. Nature Rule, Daniel-san, Not Mine.”

The Karate Kid

Impatience is a sign of youth, and Daniel is more concerned with learning how to stand up to his bullies, rather than learning why. This comes into practice during his training, when Daniel wants to learn powerful karate moves as soon as possible, instead of taking the straight and narrow path and mastering the fundamentals first.

This Mr. Miyagi quote reminds Daniel that nobody can fly unless they first learn how to stand. Similarly, a baby cannot run before it learns how to walk. Like all of Miyagi's thought-provoking quotes in the Karate Kid movies, this wisdom draws on basic notions of reality and the natural world.

14 "Man Who Catch Fly With Chopstick, Accomplish Anything."

The Karate Kid

One of Mr. Miyagi's hobbies seems to revolve around his obsession with using a pair of chopsticks to catch a housefly. Such a feat is especially challenging, as houseflies are notoriously fast. Yet Miyagi has tried for years to perfect this technique.

When Daniel asks why he spends time on the pursuit, he replies with this Karate Kid quote, before following up with one of Mr Miyagi's absolute funniest quotes. It is especially maddening that Daniel does it within his first few attempts. The look on Miyagi's face says it all, though he also sees a budding potential in Daniel.

Daniel : Wouldn't a fly swatter be easier?

Miyagi : Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.

Daniel : Ever catch one?

Miyagi : Not yet.

13 "... Sometimes What Heart Know, Head Forget."

The Karate Kid Part II

Mr. Miyagi understands human nature, and a person's tendency to forget what is morally right when they overthink to justify their desires. This usually manifests in people's tendency to rationalize actions others recognize as wrong, immoral, or ill-advised. This rationalization leads people down a rabbit hole of personal troubles — an observation the sensei manages to explain succintly in one of the best Mr. Miyagi quotes from The Karate Kid Part II.

While basing decisions purely on emotion is a rash idea, it is equally foolhardy to allow pragmatism to be the sole deciding factor. Only a balance of facts and feelings leads people down the right path to making good life decisions. In this case, Mr. Miyagi references Sato's behavior in one of The Karate Kid Part II's most matter-of-fact quotes.

12 "Daniel-San, You Look Revenge That Way, You Start By Digging Two Grave."

The Karate Kid

Revenge is fueled by rage, ego, and a desire to inflict pain on the person(s) who inflicts pain on others. Miyagi knows the best form of revenge is living well, which forces enemies to re-examine their life's path. He knows those who pursue revenge, no matter how justified it may seem, face the risk of personal self-destruction. Even in the most extreme cases, revenge rarely leaves a person satisfied.

On the contrary, revenge leaves those who enact it feeling empty, hollow, and worse off than they started. He certainly gets that idea through to Daniel. Daniel tries to teach the same concept to his students when he starts his dojo in Cobra Kai, and Daniel even uses the same line in season 3 of Cobra Kai when trying to encourage his students not to focus on getting revenge against Cobra Kai students. His students didn't learn the lesson as quickly as he did though.

11 "When You Feel Life Out Of Focus, Always Return To Basic Of Life."

The Karate Kid Part II

Scientific studies have been done on how breathing affects a person's stress level (via the University of Michigan Health). Calming the mind, focusing, and taking deep breaths help overcome stressful situations while improving blood pressure, hypertension, and other ailments. This is something Mr. Miyagi didn't need scientific studies to understand, as evidenced by this poignant quote.

Miyagi knows the importance of breathing. This is why he gives Daniel this advice in The Karate Kid, Part II. At the time, Daniel seems headed into trouble, so Miyagi brings him back to the basics and follows with a lesson about focus, featuring a hammer and a nail. Like many of Mr. Miyagi's quotes and best advice, he uses a natural path to find a connection.

10 "Here Are Two Rules Of Miyagi-Ryu Karate. Rule Number One: Karate For Defense Only. Rule Number 2 - First Learn Rule Number One!"

The Karate Kid

One of the best-remembered Mr. Miyagi quotes is his rule for karate. Mr. Miyagi is a staunch opponent of anyone who teaches martial arts for personal empowerment, ego, or glory. He knows karate is designed for self-defense only, and his mantra opposes all forms of teaching that encourage aggression and violence, such as Cobra Kai's methodology.

Miyagi-Ryu karate focuses on two brazenly simple yet cunningly wise rules. Miyagi's ancestors knew full well that it was one thing to say martial arts were for self-defense, but quite another to put them into practice. By constantly being reminded about the true nature of karate, people are better suited to using it for its intended purpose.

9 "It's Okay To Lose To Opponent! Must Not Lose To Fear!"

The Karate Kid Part III

The old saying "the only thing to fear is fear itself" is common, but many still fall victim to this emotion throughout their lives. Fear goes far beyond the monster under the bed. It can manifest itself in fear of emotions, fear of success, or fear of the unknown.

Mr. Miyagi knows that Daniel is full of fear, and he has every reason to be. However, Mr. Miyagi also knows the secret to winning in life is to admit fear, and still go on fighting. Losing to an opponent in the ring is nothing compared to losing to personal fear and doubt. That's why Mr. Miyagi tries to instill confidence in Daniel, but he also understands his fear instead of allowing himself to hide from it.

8 "Not Matter Who's Stronger. Matter Who's Smarter!"

The Karate Kid Part II

The rivalry between Miyagi and Sato in The Karate Kid II is obvious when he and Daniel step off the plane in Okinawa. Sato has been waiting decades to fight Miyagi over an honor feud, and he isn't willing to wait for it. He attempts to goad Miyagi into a fight in the street. They end up stopped by the announcement of some bad news.

Later, Daniel questions what Miyagi would have done, had Sato thrown the punch. Miyagi replies "Block." When Daniel doubts he has the strength to do anything like that, Miyagi reminds him that it isn't about who is stronger, but who relies on intellect over muscle.

7 "Never Put Passion In Front Of Principle. Even If You Win, You Lose."

The Karate Kid Part III

This Mr. Miyagi quote is a lesson many forget, especially in turbulent and troubled times. Passion is wonderful, but it is a corrosive substance that destroys everything it touches. It's good to feel passionate about a goal or a cause, but if left unchecked, it warps and destroys the best intentions.

Miyagi understands that principles are everything. "Win, no matter what" is a recipe for self-corruption and darkness. Turning a blind eye to injustice for the sake of the so-called "greater good" is an evil mandate. Principles are virtuous for a reason, and to shove them aside in favor of blind emotion is immoral, and that's consistent in all of Mr. Miyagi's appearances in the franchise.

6 "For Man With No Forgiveness In Heart, Life Worse Punishment Than Death."

The Karate Kid Part II

In The Karate Kid Part II, Mr. Miyagi has Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese on his knees at the All Valley Karate tournament. Kreese rages against his students and belittles them for losing, and Johnny Lawrence gets the worst of it with a chokehold that could have ended with him in the hospital, or worse.

Without landing a single punch, Miyagi manages to overcome Kreese, humiliating him in front of his students. When Daniel asks why he didn't kill him, Miyagi responds with this quote, which is just as strong a warning today as it was back in the 1980s.