How to Read “If matters are not kept secret, then harm will come”
Ikuji mitsu narazareba sunawachi gai naru
Meaning of “If matters are not kept secret, then harm will come”
This proverb means that if you don’t keep important matters secret, harm or disaster will inevitably occur.
It warns that carelessly sharing plans, strategies, or important information with others can cause things to fail or invite unexpected interference.
This saying applies to situations where leaked information before execution would cause problems.
Examples include new business projects, personnel changes, or important personal decisions.
The proverb doesn’t simply command “keep it secret.” Instead, it shows that maintaining confidentiality leads to practical results.
It conveys ancestral wisdom about real-world consequences. Leaked information lets competitors get ahead of you. It allows stakeholders’ agendas to derail your plans.
Even today, this teaching remains relevant. We live in an era that emphasizes confidential information management and privacy protection.
The core principle of “If matters are not kept secret, then harm will come” still holds true.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb likely originates from ancient Chinese classical thought.
It was probably influenced by works like “Han Feizi” and “Strategies of the Warring States.” These books discussed politics and strategy during China’s Warring States period.
“Ikuji” means “important matters” or “confidential affairs.” “Mitsu” means to keep secret. “Sunawachi” means “then” or “therefore.” “Gai naru” means harm occurs.
The sentence structure strongly reflects classical Chinese writing read in Japanese style. This suggests it was preserved close to its original form after arriving in Japan.
In ancient China, maintaining confidentiality was repeatedly taught as a crucial principle for rulers governing their states.
If plans leaked beforehand, enemies could prepare countermeasures. If internal information got out, national security was threatened.
This practical political wisdom forms the background of this proverb.
It came to Japan along with Chinese classics and was highly valued in samurai society.
In an era when strategy and tactics were crucial, keeping secrets was a matter of life and death.
The strict structure of the phrase and the importance of its content allowed it to be passed down as a maxim through the ages.
Usage Examples
- Following “If matters are not kept secret, then harm will come,” we only tell a limited number of people within the company about our new product development plan before the announcement
- Since job hunting follows “If matters are not kept secret, then harm will come,” it’s better not to tell anyone at your workplace until it’s decided
Universal Wisdom
The universal wisdom in this proverb reveals the power of information in human society and the essence of complex human relationships it creates.
Why does harm occur when secrets aren’t kept? Because humans fundamentally react to others’ plans and intentions.
When you’re planning something important, people who learn about it won’t necessarily support you.
Some will be jealous. Some will want to interfere. Some will try to exploit it for their own benefit.
Various emotions swirl in the human heart. Even well-meaning people sometimes leak information unconsciously.
At a deeper level, this proverb teaches the importance of “timing.”
The same information produces vastly different results depending on when and to whom you share it.
If information spreads before you’re ready, people judge you in an immature state. You can’t demonstrate your true potential.
It’s like digging up a seed before it sprouts.
Our ancestors learned from experience that appropriate confidentiality is essential for achieving anything in human society.
This isn’t cowardice but rather a sign of wisdom. Protect what should be protected. Discern the right time to reveal.
This wisdom is precisely why “If matters are not kept secret, then harm will come” has been passed down through the ages.
When AI Hears This
When secrets leak, information uncertainty actually explodes.
In information theory, as more people know a piece of information, its “entropy” or disorder increases.
For example, a secret only you know is in a completely controllable state. Entropy is near zero.
But the moment you tell one person, the probability that person tells someone else emerges. Information diffusion paths increase exponentially by powers of two.
In Shannon’s communication theory, noise inevitably enters when information passes through a channel.
Sharing a secret is exactly like opening a communication channel. Tell one person, and noise gets added through their interpretation, memory distortion, and transformation when they speak.
The original information keeps getting degraded copies made. Eventually it transforms into something the sender never intended.
Mathematically, information transmission exceeding channel capacity always generates errors.
What’s interesting is that information value is inversely proportional to the number of people sharing it.
If confidential information becomes known to ten people, the strategic advantage from using that information theoretically becomes one-tenth.
In other words, a state of “not being kept secret” doesn’t just leak secrets. It exponentially decays the strategic value of the information itself.
Ultimately, it creates a disordered state of “harm” that no one can control.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches you today is the importance of maintaining appropriate silence while nurturing your dreams and goals.
Precisely because we live in an era where you can share anything on social media, this wisdom becomes even more important.
When you have important plans, wanting to tell someone is natural.
But if you tell many people before things take shape, you can get swept up in various opinions and reactions. Your original passion can cool.
You might give up after receiving negative words. Or you might lose sight of your original purpose trying to meet others’ expectations.
This doesn’t mean becoming secretive. Consulting a few trusted people is important. Sharing information at the right time with the right scope matters.
The point is having the wisdom to protect and nurture what’s precious to you.
Seeds quietly grow roots in the soil. They sprout only after storing up enough strength.
Your plans are the same. Prepare thoroughly. Tell others after you have a clear prospect of realization.
By doing so, your dreams are protected. They can bloom more surely.
“If matters are not kept secret, then harm will come” guides you in protecting what matters most.
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