How to Read “Even to a god, one speaks with hesitation”
Kami e mo mono wa mōshigara
Meaning of “Even to a god, one speaks with hesitation”
This proverb means that even when speaking to a god, you should state your wishes with clear reasoning.
In other words, no matter how great the other person is, you shouldn’t be overly reserved or vague. Instead, you should communicate your wishes honestly and logically.
This saying is used when asking something from superiors or authority figures. It applies when excessive hesitation prevents your true message from getting through.
The logic goes: “If you should speak plainly even to a god, then you should certainly be honest with other people.” This expression encourages making legitimate requests.
Today, people understand this as advice about balancing courtesy with honesty. It shows the importance of having courage to express your thoughts and wishes clearly while maintaining respect.
This proverb expresses a Japanese virtue: being humble and making reasonable arguments are not contradictory. You can do both at the same time.
Origin and Etymology
The exact first appearance of this proverb in literature has not been identified. However, the structure of the phrase offers interesting insights.
The expression “mōshigara” combines “mōsu” (to speak humbly) with the suffix “gara.” This creates a meaning like “should speak” or “ought to speak.” This “gara” is an old usage meaning “something that has the nature of doing.”
The background of this proverb likely relates to Japan’s unique concept of gods. Gods were absolute beings, yet also familiar presences who listened to people’s wishes.
However, out of reverence for gods, people tended to be overly reserved when making requests. They would speak vaguely or hold back their words.
In this context, the teaching emerged: “Even to a god, you should state your wishes properly with clear reasoning.” This wasn’t just about religious etiquette. It was also a lesson about human sincerity.
Being reserved and being logical are different things. Even when the other party is a god, you should honestly convey your wishes based on sound reasoning.
This teaching contains wisdom about balancing two seemingly contradictory values. Japanese people value both politeness and the need for self-assertion. This proverb shows how to maintain that balance.
Usage Examples
- As they say, “Even to a god, one speaks with hesitation,” so you should properly convey your thoughts to your boss
- Being too reserved won’t get your message across, so let’s speak honestly with the spirit of “Even to a god, one speaks with hesitation”
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down through generations because it addresses a universal human struggle. That struggle is the conflict between showing respect and asserting yourself.
When people ask someone for something, they build walls of hesitation. This happens especially when the other person has higher status.
You really want to say something, but fear holds you back. You don’t want to be disliked or seen as pushy. These fears make you swallow your words.
However, excessive hesitation means your wishes don’t reach anyone. Misunderstandings arise. The result is a situation where nobody ends up happy.
Our ancestors deeply understood this human nature. That’s why they used the extreme example of “you should speak even to a god.”
The logic is powerful: if you should be straightforward even with the most fearsome being, then you certainly should be with other humans.
This contains deep understanding of human nature. True respect isn’t staying silent out of fear. It’s facing someone honestly because you trust them.
Communicating legitimate wishes honestly is never rude. Rather, it shows sincerity toward the other person.
This proverb teaches that the most important thing in relationships isn’t formal reserve. It’s genuine sincerity from the heart.
When AI Hears This
Claude Shannon, founder of information theory, proved that “error correction codes” are essential for accurate communication. Even the best sender cannot know if information was received correctly without confirmation from the receiver.
This proverb captures exactly that principle.
The phrase “even to a god” is noteworthy. A god should be a perfect information source, an ideal sender with zero noise. Yet the proverb says “one speaks,” meaning feedback is necessary.
Why? Because the problem isn’t on the sending side. It’s on the receiving side and the transmission channel.
Human cognitive systems always have biases. The same words get interpreted differently depending on context and experience. Information theory calls this “channel capacity constraints.”
Research into NASA Mars probe accidents found that most technical failures came from “misinterpretation of one-way instructions.” Even perfect blueprints lead to failure if the receiving side understands them differently.
That’s why two-way confirmation, the process of “speaking up,” is essential.
This proverb grasps that the essence of communication isn’t transmitting information. It’s the mutual confirmation process.
The insight here goes deeper than assuming no perfect sender exists. It recognizes that even perfection requires confirmation.
Lessons for Today
For those of us living in modern society, this proverb offers courage. At work and at home, we face daily situations where we wonder whether to speak or stay silent.
Proposals to bosses, requests to clients, honest feelings with family—all of these come with anxiety. “If I say this, might the relationship get worse?”
But this proverb teaches us something important. Communicating reasonable wishes and opinions is never rude.
What matters is not getting emotional, but presenting your case with clear reasoning. If you can logically explain why you think something and why it’s necessary, those words are worth saying.
If you’re currently holding back something you want to tell someone, pause and think. Is it truly something you shouldn’t say? Or is fear disguised as reserve getting in your way?
If your reasoning is sound, have the courage to put it into words. Sincere communication is the first step toward building true trust.
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