How to Read “好事門を出でず悪事千里を行く”
kouji mon wo idezu akuji senri wo iku
Meaning of “好事門を出でず悪事千里を行く”
This proverb means that good things are not easily known to the outside world, but bad things spread far and wide in an instant.
As a human psychological tendency, people are more likely to pay attention to bad events that cause surprise or shock rather than peaceful and good events. Also, people who do good deeds are often humble and modest, and do not like to promote themselves. On the other hand, bad events are newsworthy and easily passed from person to person.
This proverb is often used especially when talking about reputation and fame. It is used to express situations where even if you work hard doing good things, you are not easily recognized, but once you make a mistake or cause a scandal, that bad reputation spreads immediately. Even in modern times, this lesson holds very important meaning when considering personal reputation management and corporate brand image.
Origin and Etymology
“Good things do not exit gate bad things travel thousand miles” is a proverb that originates from Chinese classics. The prototype of this expression is thought to be found in the phrase “好事不出門、悪事行千里” seen in ancient Chinese literature.
This proverb was probably transmitted to Japan from the Heian period onward, when Chinese literature became popular. The intellectuals of that time studied Chinese classics and began to adapt the instructional expressions contained within them into Japanese.
What is interesting is the meaning of the word “gate” used in this expression. In ancient China, “gate” was not just an entrance and exit, but also a symbol of a clan or family lineage. In other words, “do not exit gate” implies the meaning of not going beyond the scope of that house or clan.
On the other hand, the expression “thousand miles” is an idiomatic numeral often used in Chinese classics to represent “a very long distance.” It is not meant to indicate an actual thousand miles (about 4000 kilometers), but is used as a metaphorical expression meaning “far away.”
This proverb contains the wisdom of ancient people who keenly observed the characteristics of information transmission in human society, and has resonated with many people across the ages.
Interesting Facts
The distance “thousand miles” that appears in this proverb corresponds to about 4000 kilometers in ancient Chinese measurements. This is equivalent to the distance from Beijing to Southeast Asia, and for ancient people it truly meant an expression for “the ends of the earth.”
The contrast between “good things” and “bad things” also shows the influence of ancient Chinese yin-yang philosophy. In yin-yang philosophy, quiet and introverted things are considered “yin,” and dynamic and extroverted things are considered “yang,” and the structure of this proverb shows a similar contrast.
Usage Examples
- That company had been steadily contributing to society for many years, but with one scandal it became a typical example of Good things do not exit gate bad things travel thousand miles
- Her kind acts are not well known, but only rumors of trivial mistakes spread – this is truly Good things do not exit gate bad things travel thousand miles
Modern Interpretation
In today’s information society, the meaning of this proverb has become even clearer. With the spread of SNS and the internet, bad news and critical information are instantly disseminated around the world, while steady good deeds and positive initiatives rarely attract attention.
The phenomenon of “going viral” in particular can be said to be the modern version of “bad things travel thousand miles.” Corporate scandals and celebrity scandals become known to tens of thousands of people within hours, and their impact becomes immeasurable. On the other hand, daily small kindnesses and social contribution activities will not catch people’s attention unless consciously communicated.
However, in modern society there is also the phenomenon of “going viral,” and sometimes good things spread rapidly. It is not uncommon for moving stories and heartwarming episodes to be shared on SNS. This could be said to be a new exception to the rule of the classical proverb.
Still, basic human psychology remains unchanged, and the tendency for negative information to be more memorable and more likely to become a topic of conversation continues. For modern people, this old proverb serves as a valuable lesson teaching the importance of information literacy and reputation management.
When AI Hears This
The human brain possesses a characteristic called “negativity bias.” This is a mechanism that responds about five times more strongly to bad information than to good information. This exists because humans have lived in environments where “missing danger means death” since ancient times.
Modern social media algorithms unconsciously exploit this brain characteristic. To maximize user “engagement” (likes, comments, and shares), they prioritize posts that easily trigger emotional reactions. As a result, negative content that stirs up anger or anxiety becomes more likely to spread.
In fact, according to MIT research, false information spreads six times faster than true information on Twitter. Political misinformation in particular spreads 20 times faster. This is because people tend to react strongly to intense emotions like “surprise” and “anger.”
In other words, the phenomenon of “bad news travels fast” is not simply a matter of human character flaws. It’s the result of a combination of the brain’s survival instincts and algorithmic structures.
Meanwhile, good news has weak emotional impact, making it less likely to be selected by algorithms. For example, “political scandals” get shared overwhelmingly more than “local volunteer activities.” Ancient proverbs are being further accelerated by modern technology.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is how important the accumulation of daily actions is. Good things may not be evaluated immediately, but they are still worth continuing. This is because the people who are truly important are properly watching your steady efforts.
At the same time, let’s keep in mind that a single failure or mistake can have a major impact. This is not to be feared, but to be more careful in our daily choices. Especially in the modern era when SNS has become widespread, casual remarks and actions can spread in unexpected ways.
But that doesn’t mean you need to shrink back. Rather, by actively communicating good things and finding and praising the good deeds of people around you, you can help “good things” “exit the gate.” Your single word might become the trigger for letting many people know about someone’s efforts.
In the end, this proverb teaches us the importance of living with dignity. Continuing to do what is right regardless of whether you are evaluated or not. That is what leads to a truly rich life, isn’t it?
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