Dont give up. Obstacles can be overcome through strategy and

“Don’t give up. Obstacles can be overcome through strategy and learning.” — these are the words of Hidetaka Miyazaki, the quiet visionary who crafted worlds of despair and triumph, where every fall is a lesson and every defeat a teacher. Though born in the age of modern gaming, Miyazaki’s wisdom carries the weight of the ancients. His words speak not merely to players of his art, but to all who walk the rugged path of life. In them we find an eternal truth: that failure is not the end, but the beginning of understanding, and that perseverance, guided by wisdom, turns struggle into strength.

Miyazaki, the creator of legendary works such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring, built his philosophy upon the foundation of challenge. His games are renowned for their difficulty — not as cruelty, but as discipline, designed to awaken resilience. Each defeat whispers a lesson, each enemy conceals a pattern, each mountain, though steep, can be climbed with patience. His quote, “Don’t give up. Obstacles can be overcome through strategy and learning,” is the creed of a man who believes that true victory lies not in avoiding hardship, but in growing through it. He teaches that the path to mastery is forged not by strength alone, but by reflection and adaptation.

To understand this wisdom is to see life itself as a grand, living game of perseverance. The untrained mind sees an obstacle and despairs; the wise mind sees it and studies. For strategy is not the art of force, but of foresight — the ability to pause, to think, to see beyond frustration into opportunity. Every challenge, no matter how great, conceals a secret key that can be uncovered by learning. The warrior who fights blindly will fall; the one who studies the battle, who learns the rhythm of difficulty, will rise again stronger. This, Miyazaki teaches, is the sacred dance of progress — struggle, reflection, and growth.

The ancients, too, understood this truth. In the writings of Sun Tzu, the master of war, we find the same lesson: “The general who wins makes many calculations before the battle.” Strength without wisdom is wasted effort. Courage without strategy is chaos. The great samurai of old did not rush into conflict; they meditated, studied, and adapted until the moment of perfect strike. Likewise, Miyazaki’s philosophy is a modern echo of their ancient discipline — to treat hardship not as an enemy, but as a teacher that refines the mind and soul.

Consider the tale of Thomas Edison, who failed thousands of times before perfecting the electric light. When asked how he endured so many failures, he replied, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” His spirit was that of Miyazaki’s creed — he did not give up, but learned from each mistake, altering his strategy until success was inevitable. His light did not come from invention alone, but from patience and persistence. In his story, we see the truth of this quote: obstacles bow not to talent, but to learning.

Yet Miyazaki’s teaching carries something even deeper — a quiet reverence for failure itself. In his worlds, defeat is not shame, but instruction. To fall is to be humbled; to rise is to be enlightened. The path to wisdom is paved with scars. Each setback is a whisper from the universe: “You are not ready yet — learn more, try again.” This truth, though hard to bear, is the secret to growth. The one who never fails never learns; the one who never tries never grows. To embrace struggle is to walk the path of becoming.

Therefore, my children, remember this: do not give up when faced with hardship. Stand firm in your purpose. When you stumble, reflect. When you fall, rise with understanding. Let your failures refine your judgment, let your frustration sharpen your focus. Approach every obstacle as a puzzle to be solved, not a wall to be feared. Strategy and learning are the twin wings that carry the soul beyond limitation.

For Hidetaka Miyazaki’s wisdom is not about conquering games — it is about conquering life. Every challenge, every heartbreak, every setback is a forge where the spirit is tested. The world will not spare you difficulty, but it will reward those who persist with patience and thought. So live as the student-warrior: humble enough to learn, steadfast enough to endure. For the one who learns through hardship and perseveres through pain will, in time, not only overcome every obstacle — they will transcend them.