How to Read “When ships come in, ships go out”
Irifune areba defune ari
Meaning of “When ships come in, ships go out”
This proverb means that everything in life involves coming and going, and nothing stays the same forever.
Just as ships enter a harbor and other ships leave, life brings both good and bad times. When you gain something, you also lose something.
People come together and then drift apart. Money flows in and flows out.
Everything is fluid. No state lasts forever. This is the teaching at the heart of this proverb.
You use this proverb when you want to show acceptance of change. When things are going well, don’t become careless.
When times are hard, don’t fall into despair. The world is always moving, so stay flexible and adapt.
This proverb expresses a positive attitude. Even today, people use this wisdom when talking about changes in business or relationships.
It reminds us to accept the natural flow of life.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written record explains the exact origin of this proverb. However, based on its structure, it likely came from everyday scenes in port towns.
During the Edo period, harbors across Japan bustled with goods and people. Standing at a port, you would see ships arriving with cargo and ships departing after unloading.
This ordinary sight left a deep impression on people’s minds.
A harbor is a space of constant change. The same ships don’t stay docked forever.
Different vessels come and go in endless succession. This continuous movement was the essence of harbor life and created commercial vitality.
The proverb likely emerged from the keen observations of people in an era when maritime trade was central to the economy.
Merchants watched the harbor and realized that everything has both incoming and outgoing flows. One-way movement doesn’t exist in nature.
Through the concrete image of a harbor, this proverb expresses the abstract truth about life’s changes. This skillful metaphor resonated with many people and has been passed down to this day.
Interesting Facts
In port towns, tides and ship movements have always been closely connected. Large ships can enter during high tide.
During low tide, more ships depart to avoid shallow waters. Nature’s rhythm itself creates the “coming and going.”
This proverb reflects not just human activity but deep observation of natural laws.
During the Edo period, harbors kept records called “ship inspection ledgers” that tracked incoming and outgoing vessels.
These records were for tax collection and security. Looking at them, you could clearly see that arrivals and departures were roughly equal.
This fact may have helped establish the proverb among merchants and officials.
Usage Examples
- When company performance is good, remember “when ships come in, ships go out” and prepare for the next change
- Some people left when I became popular, but “when ships come in, ships go out,” so I decided not to worry about it
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has endured because humans constantly struggle with two emotions: the desire for permanence and the fear of change.
We instinctively wish good times would last forever. We want happiness to be eternal and prosperity to never fade.
But reality shows that everything passes. This gap between reality and desire creates anxiety and attachment.
Our ancestors found this universal truth in the everyday scene of a harbor. Ships come in, but they always leave.
This isn’t sad or joyful. It’s just how things are. This acceptance is the core of the proverb.
Interestingly, this proverb doesn’t preach resignation. Instead, it shows an active way of living.
By accepting change as natural, you free yourself from attachment. You can cherish this present moment more deeply.
Humans fear change, but we also grow through change. Coming and going, gaining and losing—having both makes life rich.
This sense of balance is why the proverb resonates across generations.
When AI Hears This
The fact that ships entering and leaving a harbor are roughly equal is actually a “steady state” in thermodynamics.
A steady state means energy and matter constantly flow in and out, maintaining overall balance.
In the universe, disorder (entropy) always increases. But open systems like life on Earth or harbors can maintain local order.
They take in energy from outside, use it, and expel what’s unnecessary. Your body temperature stays constant because you get energy from food and release heat.
Harbors work the same way. Ships—bundles of matter, information, and energy—come in and go out.
This flow keeps the harbor functioning as a “living system.”
If only ships entered and none left, the harbor would become saturated and stop working. If only ships left, the harbor would empty.
The “balance of coming and going” is absolutely necessary for open systems to maintain order. Life, economies, and cities all operate on this principle.
This proverb uses the concrete example of a harbor to show the only way to maintain order without fighting universal laws: keep flowing.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches you the courage to embrace change and trust the flow of life.
If you’re anxious about losing something right now, remember this. When something leaves, something else always comes.
When relationships change, new encounters await. When you lose a job, another path opens.
What matters is not rejecting change but preparing to welcome what comes next.
On the other hand, if everything is going smoothly now, remember that this won’t last forever either.
This isn’t pessimistic thinking. It’s wisdom that helps you savor your current happiness more deeply.
Because it will end someday, this moment is precious.
Modern society changes rapidly, and we live in constant uncertainty. But when you understand that change is the natural state, anxiety eases.
Let go of attachment and trust the flow. By doing this, you can walk through life more freely and lightly.
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