Even If The Lord Does Not Act As A Lord Should, The Subject Must Not Fail To Act As A Subject Should: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Even if the lord does not act as a lord should, the subject must not fail to act as a subject should”

Kunkun tarazu to iedomo shin motte shin tarazaru bekarazu

Meaning of “Even if the lord does not act as a lord should, the subject must not fail to act as a subject should”

This proverb means that even when a lord fails to act properly, a subject must still fulfill their duties faithfully. Even if the person you serve is not ideal and doesn’t meet your expectations, you must not forget your own responsibilities and pride in your position.

It shows a strict but noble attitude. You should not lower the quality of your own actions because of someone else’s behavior. The idea is that using a superior’s imperfections as an excuse to slack off or become careless ultimately damages your own character.

Today, this lesson applies beyond just lord-subject relationships. It works for boss-employee, teacher-student, and many other hierarchical relationships. It teaches the importance of a professional attitude: doing your best in your role regardless of how others behave.

Origin and Etymology

This proverb likely comes from the Chinese classic “Zuo Zhuan” (Commentary of Zuo). It emerged from Confucian thought in ancient China, which taught the ideal relationship between lords and subjects.

In Confucianism, the phrase “lord as lord, subject as subject” described a mutual relationship. It meant both should act according to their roles. But in reality, not all lords were ideal. The question of how subjects should behave under tyrants or incompetent rulers always existed.

This proverb offers one answer to that real-world problem. Even when a lord lacks virtue, a subject should still fulfill their duties. This doesn’t just preach obedience. It can be understood as emphasizing the importance of maintaining one’s own character and pride.

The proverb came to Japan long ago and connected with the spirit of bushido. It became widely known as a principle for subjects in lord-vassal relationships. Records show it was treated as an important lesson in samurai education during the Edo period.

Usage Examples

• I have doubts about my boss’s decisions, but following “Even if the lord does not act as a lord should, the subject must not fail to act as a subject should,” I’ll complete my work properly
• Even though I’m unhappy with the leadership, I’ll fulfill my responsibilities as a team member with the spirit of “Even if the lord does not act as a lord should, the subject must not fail to act as a subject should”

Universal Wisdom

The universal truth in this proverb is that human dignity is not determined by others’ actions. We all feel tempted to slack off when someone doesn’t meet our expectations. That’s a natural human emotion. But this proverb teaches the value of resisting that temptation.

Using someone else’s imperfections as an excuse to lower your own standards actually means letting them control your character. On the other hand, staying true to your path regardless of circumstances is true independence and freedom. This doesn’t preach blind obedience. It shows the importance of staying honest with yourself.

People are easily influenced by their environment and others. The chain reaction of “if others slack off, so will I” has repeated throughout history. But history also remembers those who resisted such trends and stuck to their principles.

This proverb has been passed down because humans fundamentally seek inner strength that external circumstances cannot shake. The attitude of remaining yourself regardless of others is a universal value that resonates across time.

When AI Hears This

In a typical prisoner’s dilemma, both equal parties choosing betrayal leads to mutual destruction. But this proverb shows an asymmetric structure where only one side maintains cooperation. At first glance, it seems like an unfair rule where only the subject loses. But this actually becomes a safety mechanism preventing total system collapse.

Why? Because if subjects respond to a lord’s misconduct with betrayal, a chain of retaliation begins. Game theory considers “tit-for-tat” effective, but that assumes an endless game. In political systems, once mutual betrayal starts, there may be no next round. The state itself could disappear through revolution or civil war.

What’s interesting is that the subject’s one-sided cooperation creates a public good called “system continuity.” For example, even domains that received unfair treatment through confiscation or transfer during the Edo period mostly maintained order. This resulted in an amazing 265 years of regime stability. While irrational at the individual level, it was a rational strategy for society as a whole.

In other words, this proverb shows a “meta-strategy” that protects the game board itself, not just short-term gains and losses.

Lessons for Today

This proverb teaches us that we must protect our own value ourselves. Thinking “my boss is unreasonable, so I can be careless too” or “my teacher is unfair, so I don’t need to try” actually hurts you most of all.

You work with integrity not because your boss is wonderful. You do it because you want to be an honest person. You study seriously not because your teacher is perfect, but because you want to grow. This difference seems small but represents a perspective shift that can transform your life.

Not letting others’ actions determine the quality of your own actions is true independence. It’s not uncritical obedience to others. Rather, it means taking control of your own life. It means having the strength to maintain your identity in any situation without blaming your environment or others.

Perfect bosses and ideal environments don’t exist in this world. But that’s exactly why it’s important to have your own standards and live by them. That becomes your pride and eventually influences those around you positively.