How to Read “A noble person speaks with actions, a petty person speaks with the tongue”
Kunshi okonai wo motte ii, shōjin shita wo motte iu
Meaning of “A noble person speaks with actions, a petty person speaks with the tongue”
This proverb means that admirable people demonstrate through their actions, while shallow people only talk.
Truly excellent individuals don’t dress up their thoughts and beliefs with fancy words. Instead, they express themselves through actual deeds.
On the other hand, people without substance may say impressive things, but they never follow through with action.
This proverb is used to criticize people whose actions don’t match their words. It’s also used to praise those who quietly build up achievements.
People also use it as a reminder to themselves. In modern society, where anyone can easily post on social media, this teaching has become even more important.
Words are easy to say, but actions require responsibility and commitment. This proverb teaches us a universal truth: to become truly trustworthy, we must show through actions rather than words.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is believed to come from ancient Chinese philosophy, particularly Confucianism.
The contrasting concepts of “kunshi” (noble person) and “shōjin” (petty person) appear frequently in Confucian classics like the Analects of Confucius.
In Confucianism, a noble person is someone who accumulates virtue and pursues learning. A petty person, in contrast, lacks moral character.
The structure of this proverb creates a striking contrast. It compares “speaking with actions” to “speaking with the tongue.”
Both involve the same act of “speaking,” but the methods are completely different. A noble person expresses thoughts through actual behavior, while a petty person only uses words.
Confucian thought came to Japan in ancient times. However, no clear records show exactly when Japanese people started using this proverb.
Still, it fits naturally with Japanese culture. The spirit of bushido and the value of “action without words” are deeply rooted in Japan.
The virtue of showing through actions rather than words resonates strongly in Japanese society. This proverb captures that spirit perfectly, which is why it has been passed down through generations.
Usage Examples
- He embodies “A noble person speaks with actions, a petty person speaks with the tongue” – he always keeps his promises
- He says impressive things, but as “A noble person speaks with actions, a petty person speaks with the tongue” teaches us, words mean nothing without action
Universal Wisdom
Human beings have a curious trait. Speaking words is easy, but taking action is hard.
This proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years because it sees through this fundamental human nature.
Why do people become all talk? Because words carry no pain. Talking about ideals feels good. It makes us feel like noble people.
But actual action requires time and effort. It carries the risk of failure. So many people settle for just words.
Truly excellent people, however, choose their words carefully. They know they must take responsibility for what they say and prove it through action.
They don’t make promises lightly. They only speak about what they can do. Then they quietly execute.
This contrast appears in every aspect of human society. Politicians, business leaders, teachers, parents, friends – in every role, the match between words and actions is the source of trust.
Our ancestors realized the most reliable way to judge people is not by their words but by their actions. This is a fundamental truth about human relationships that never changes, no matter the era.
When AI Hears This
Actions as an information channel have verifiability that words lack.
For example, saying “I wake up at 5 AM every day” costs almost nothing. But actually waking up at 5 AM every day requires enormous cost: 365 days of time and willpower.
Information theory tells us that high-cost signals are harder to fake and less prone to noise. In other words, actions structurally have a high signal-to-noise ratio.
What’s more interesting is that words can be copied and pasted. Borrowing someone else’s beautiful words is easy, but you can’t borrow someone else’s track record of actions.
Words get distorted during transmission, both intentionally and unconsciously. Think of the telephone game.
Actions, however, leave physical traces. Records of arriving at work at 5 AM, products created, testimony from people helped – these can be verified by multiple independent observers.
In communication engineering, to increase reliability in noisy channels, you need redundancy or confirmation through separate independent channels.
When a noble person speaks through actions rather than words, they’re choosing the channel with the lowest redundancy and highest verifiability.
This proverb puts into words a biologically correct heuristic that humans use intuitively to judge information reliability.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people that trust can only be built through accumulated actions.
In an age where anyone can easily post on social media, the gap between words and actions stands out more than ever.
First, take responsibility for your words. Don’t casually promise what you can’t deliver. Whatever you decide to do, execute it, even if it’s small.
By building this habit, your words gain weight.
Next, use this perspective when evaluating others. Don’t be fooled by skillful words. Look at their track record of actions.
Focus on what they’ve done, not what they’ve said. This wisdom also helps you avoid relationship troubles.
Most importantly, have the courage to act quietly. Even without flashy announcements, if you steadily build up achievements, people will notice.
Real ability is proven by results, not words. Your actions themselves become your most eloquent speech.
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