How to Read “Even a fine horse cannot leap ten steps in one bound”
Kiki mo ichiyaku ni jippo suru koto atawazu
Meaning of “Even a fine horse cannot leap ten steps in one bound”
This proverb means that even excellent people cannot achieve great results all at once.
No matter how talented or capable someone is, they need to take things step by step. It’s impossible to skip stages and get instant results.
People use this saying when advising someone who’s rushing to see results. It reminds them that steady effort matters most.
You can also use it as a reminder to yourself when you feel you’re moving too fast.
In today’s world, people often want immediate success. This proverb brings us back to the importance of the gradual process.
Talent and ability are certainly important, but they’re not enough by themselves. Moving forward one step at a time is what leads to truly great achievements.
This truth applies to everyone, regardless of their natural gifts.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb comes from the ancient Chinese text “Xunzi,” specifically from the chapter called “An Exhortation to Learning.”
The original Chinese text reads “騏驥一躍、不能十歩.” When it came to Japan, it was translated into Japanese reading style and became the form we use today.
Kiki refers to a legendary fine horse said to run a thousand miles in one day.
In ancient China, such excellent horses symbolized royalty and nobility. They were used as metaphors for the highest talent and ability.
“Ichiyaku” means one leap, and “juppo” means a distance of ten steps.
Xunzi used this horse example while discussing human learning and self-cultivation.
Even the finest horse cannot advance ten steps with just one jump. However, even a slow horse can reach far distances by walking continuously for ten days without rest.
This teaching emphasizes the importance of continuous effort over natural talent.
The idea is that steady accumulation leads to great achievement, not momentary power or temporary results.
This proverb came to Japan along with Chinese classical texts. It became established as a saying that teaches the value of effort and persistence.
Interesting Facts
The fine horse called kiki in this proverb was one of eight legendary horses owned by King Mu of Zhou in Chinese legend.
These horses were said to gallop a thousand miles in one day. King Mu rode them on a journey to Mount Kunlun in the west, according to ancient myths.
In Xunzi’s “An Exhortation to Learning,” the kiki example is followed by the phrase “駑馬十駕、功在不舎.”
This means that even a slow horse can travel far if it keeps going for ten days without stopping.
It forms a parallel structure that emphasizes the power of persistence over talent.
Usage Examples
- I’m trying to learn a new programming language, but even a fine horse cannot leap ten steps in one bound, so I just have to study a little bit each day
- She’s a genius pianist, but even a fine horse cannot leap ten steps in one bound—she still practices for hours every single day
Universal Wisdom
When humans see someone with outstanding talent, we tend to think their success came instantly.
However, this proverb confronts us with a harsh truth. No matter how excellent someone is, great results cannot be achieved in a single leap.
Why do people seek shortcuts? It’s because the process of effort is hard to see.
We notice the moment of someone’s success, but we miss the countless small steps behind it. We tend to see only results and overlook the process.
This truth has been passed down through generations because human impatience is universal.
In ancient China and modern Japan alike, people want quick results. But nature shows us the reality clearly.
Seeds don’t bear fruit immediately after planting. Babies don’t become adults in one day. Growth requires the element of time.
This proverb also teaches humility. It’s about not overestimating your talent and not undervaluing steady accumulation.
The recognition that even a fine horse must advance step by step comes from deep insight into human nature.
Talent is just a starting point. To make use of it requires continuous effort. This is an unchanging law of life.
When AI Hears This
The reason a fine horse cannot advance ten steps in one jump is actually because muscles have a physical upper limit to the power they can generate.
Power means “the amount of energy available per unit of time.” For example, if a horse’s muscles can release 100 units of energy in an instant, using it in 0.5 seconds gives 200 power.
But even if you shorten it to 0.1 seconds, muscle fiber contraction speed has limits. You cannot increase power infinitely.
Human muscles make this easier to understand. The world record for vertical jump is about 1.5 meters.
This is the result of maximum power that leg muscles can produce in about 0.3 seconds.
If you wanted to jump 10 meters in an instant, you’d theoretically need about 40 times more power. But biological muscles cannot achieve such explosive work rates.
The mechanism of creating energy through chemical reactions and moving proteins simply takes time.
So even an excellent horse must cover distance by investing energy continuously over time through multiple jumps or running.
This isn’t laziness or lack of talent. It’s a constraint of the physical laws that govern the universe.
The need for effort and persistence isn’t about mental attitude. It’s a scientific necessity—you cannot accomplish big work without distributing energy over time.
Lessons for Today
Modern times demand instant results. We get information instantly on the internet and see people become famous overnight on social media.
This makes us hope that shortcuts exist for us too. But this proverb offers a lesson we should remember especially in this modern age.
If you’re working on something now and feel you’re not making progress, that’s actually normal.
Even excellent people cannot make big leaps all at once. So there’s no need to rush. What matters is taking today’s step with certainty.
This teaching also frees us from perfectionism. Instead of aiming for perfection in one try, adopt an attitude of gradual improvement.
This releases you from pressure and makes it easier to continue. Accumulating small progress is what eventually leads to great results.
Talent and ability are certainly important, but what matters more is the power to continue every day.
The potential within you will bloom not through a single leap, but through the accumulation of small daily steps.
Don’t rush, but don’t stop either. Cherish what you can do today.
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