How to Read “When one person spreads a lie, ten thousand people spread it as truth”
Hitori kyo wo tsutaureba bannin jitsu wo tsutau
Meaning of “When one person spreads a lie, ten thousand people spread it as truth”
This proverb warns about the danger of how information spreads. When one person tells a lie, many people end up spreading it as if it were true.
Even if something starts as an obvious falsehood, it can become accepted truth as it passes from person to person. Eventually, no one questions it anymore.
People use this saying when baseless rumors are spreading. It also applies when false information has taken root in society.
The proverb teaches the importance of not accepting information at face value. We should always verify facts before believing them.
In modern times, this lesson has become even more critical. Social media and the internet allow information to spread instantly.
A single piece of false information can reach tens of thousands of people in moments. They may accept it as truth without question.
This danger is exactly what the proverb has warned about for hundreds of years. The technology is new, but the human tendency remains the same.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb is not clearly documented in historical texts. However, we can learn much from examining its structure.
The proverb uses “kyo” (falsehood) and “jitsu” (truth) as contrasting concepts. This reflects the influence of classical Chinese thought.
The concept of “kyojitsu” has been used since ancient times. It appears in discussions about truth versus falsehood, or reality versus appearance.
The structure creates a striking contrast between numbers. “One person” versus “ten thousand people” shows how dramatically false information multiplies.
Just one individual’s lie becomes truth in the mouths of countless others. This numerical contrast emphasizes how terrifying the spread of misinformation can be.
The verb “tsutau” (to transmit) appears twice in the proverb. The first use refers to spreading the lie. The second refers to spreading it as truth.
Using the same verb both times is significant. It shows that the transformation from falsehood to truth happens through the same basic action: passing information along.
During the Edo period, oral culture flourished in Japan. Rumors could spread through communities with remarkable speed.
In such an environment, people needed to distinguish true information from false. This proverb likely became widely used to teach that important skill.
Usage Examples
- That rumor is a perfect example of “when one person spreads a lie, ten thousand people spread it as truth”—it apparently started as someone’s misunderstanding
- Online information easily becomes “when one person spreads a lie, ten thousand people spread it as truth,” so I always check multiple sources
Universal Wisdom
This proverb reveals a universal truth about human nature. We have a fundamental desire to feel secure within our group.
We tend to believe what many others believe. When we share the group’s beliefs, we avoid being left out. We feel safer.
A lie spreads to ten thousand people not simply because information travels. The psychology behind it is more complex.
The first person thinks, “Everyone is saying this, so it must be true.” The next person believes, “If that person says so, it can’t be wrong.”
Then another person concludes, “This has spread so widely, it must be fact.” In this chain, no one bothers to verify the original information.
Humans also want to avoid the trouble of checking facts. Investigating truth takes time and effort.
But accepting what everyone else believes is easy. It gives us comfort without work.
When this laziness combines with our desire to belong, falsehood transforms into truth. This is the dangerous mechanism the proverb describes.
Our ancestors understood this human weakness. That’s why this saying has been passed down through generations.
Technology advances, but human nature doesn’t change. In fact, this warning carries even more weight today when information spreads instantly.
When AI Hears This
Information theory tells us that noise gets added at each stage when a message passes from person to person. The key point is that noise doesn’t simply add up—it multiplies.
Suppose information accuracy stays at 90 percent at each stage. After passing through 10 people, accuracy drops to about 35 percent (0.9 to the 10th power).
But when the original information is a lie—intentional noise—the situation changes dramatically.
In normal transmission, truth acts as a strong signal. Random noise tends to cancel itself out to some degree.
However, when directional noise (a lie) enters from the start, human cognitive biases amplify it. Psychological research shows we fill information gaps with our imagination.
This filling-in process tends to work in the same direction as the original lie. The falsehood gains specificity and persuasiveness with each retelling.
Shannon’s channel capacity theorem adds another insight. Human communication channels aren’t perfect. We have limits on how much information we can process.
Simple lies pass through this limited capacity more efficiently than complex truths. As a result, truth gets stripped away during transmission.
Only the simplified lie remains clear and vivid in people’s minds.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches you the importance of “the courage to pause.” Information floods toward us constantly today. Going with the flow is easy.
But what truly matters is not jumping on board just because everyone else believes something.
Make it a habit to pause when you encounter information. Ask yourself, “Is this really true?” Take a breath before reacting.
Be especially careful with information that stirs strong emotions. Content that provokes anger or anxiety is more likely to be false.
When you’re about to share information, be even more cautious. Your single click of the share button might make you the “one person” who turns falsehood into truth.
Ask yourself, “Is it okay to spread this?” That question represents responsible behavior in modern society.
Most importantly, this proverb encourages you to trust your own judgment. No matter what others say, verify with your own eyes and think with your own mind.
That attitude gives you the power to break the chain of falsehood. Each person’s small act of carefulness protects truth in society as a whole.
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