How to Read “The skilled have too much, the unskilled have too little”
Kōsha wa amari ari sessha wa tarazu
Meaning of “The skilled have too much, the unskilled have too little”
This proverb describes a reality: people with excellent skills and abilities can always handle things with room to spare. In contrast, inexperienced people find themselves lacking no matter what they do.
What’s important here is the focus. The proverb doesn’t simply point out the difference between “good” and “bad” people. Instead, it highlights the resulting states of “surplus” and “shortage.”
Skilled people can use materials, time, and effort with plenty to spare. Unskilled people run short no matter how much they prepare.
This proverb is used when teaching how important skill development and ability improvement are. It also explains why inexperienced people easily fall into inadequate preparation.
Today, people understand it in the context of work efficiency and time management. It functions as a persuasive expression when advocating for skill improvement.
Origin and Etymology
The exact first appearance of this proverb in literature is unclear. However, the word structure suggests it was already in use during the Edo period. Expressions that paired contrasting words like “skilled” and “unskilled” were popular among common people at that time.
“Kōsha” refers to people with excellent skills and knowledge. “Sessha” means the opposite—inexperienced people. What’s interesting are the expressions “amari ari” (have too much) and “tarazu” (have too little).
These phrases don’t just describe the difference in skill. They focus on the resulting states of “surplus” and “shortage.” This is a distinctive feature.
The background for this expression likely lies in Edo period society, when artisan culture flourished. Carpenters, plasterers, blacksmiths, and various craftsmen competed with their skills. People observed the differences between masters and beginners daily.
Skilled craftsmen could proceed with work having plenty of materials and time. Inexperienced ones wasted materials and ran out of time. People who witnessed this reality crystallized the contrast into words.
This expression also contains a life philosophy beyond mere technical discussion. You can feel the wisdom of ancestors who calmly observed the reality of surplus and shortage created by differences in ability.
Usage Examples
- He finishes in a short time because he’s experienced, but I can’t finish even after hours—truly “the skilled have too much, the unskilled have too little”
- As a newcomer, I wasted materials many times, but they really knew what they were saying with “the skilled have too much, the unskilled have too little”
Universal Wisdom
The truth this proverb reveals is a deep insight. Differences in ability don’t just show up as different results. They appear as the presence or absence of margin throughout the entire process. Why has humanity carefully passed down this observation?
Because these words capture an essential mechanism in human growth. The “insufficient” state that beginners fall into doesn’t come simply from immature skills.
Without experience, they don’t know where to ease up or where to focus. They exhaust themselves by giving their all to everything. Meanwhile, skilled people understand the key points. They accomplish more with the same effort.
This structure is common to all human activities. In learning, relationships, and management, experienced people see “sources of margin” that inexperienced people cannot see.
That’s why beginners always feel they lack time and resources. They spend their days in anxiety and impatience.
Our ancestors saw through this universal pattern of human growth. Through these words, they also conveyed hope: “Even if you lack now, that’s natural. With experience, margin will surely come.”
This proverb quietly teaches us that human growth is a journey from “having too little” to “having too much.”
When AI Hears This
The world of information compression has a concept called “optimal compression rate.” When you compress data to its limit, a single bit error can collapse everything. That’s why practical compression algorithms deliberately stop at about 90 percent of the theoretical limit.
This 10 percent “surplus” becomes the buffer that guarantees system robustness.
Skilled people having margin follows exactly this principle. The higher someone’s skill, the less they aim for perfection and intentionally leave play. For example, experienced programmers don’t shorten code to the extreme. They deliberately leave redundant explanatory text.
They’re securing “room for expansion” to handle future changes. Meanwhile, unskilled people believe “eliminating waste means efficiency” and over-compress. As a result, they can’t respond to unexpected situations and lose even necessary information.
What’s interesting is the similarity to Shannon’s “channel coding theorem,” proven by the founder of information theory. Since perfectly noise-free communication channels don’t exist, redundant bits for error correction are essential.
In other words, “surplus” isn’t waste—it’s insurance against uncertainty. This proverb verbalized the truth that optimization isn’t reaching limits but designing appropriate margins, long before mathematical proof.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches you today is this: the “insufficient” anxiety you feel now is not your defect. It’s proof you’re in the midst of growth.
Modern society demands immediate results and emphasizes efficiency. In this context, feeling you lack time or ability becomes major stress.
But this proverb teaches us something important. Margin isn’t something you gain overnight. It’s born only through accumulated experience.
What matters is not being ashamed of your current “insufficient” state. Accept it as a signpost toward growth. When you see veterans with their relaxed manner, don’t be discouraged by the gap between you and them.
You can hold the hope that “someday I’ll reach that state too.”
And if you’re already at the “having too much” stage, remember your former self. You can share your margin with people who feel insufficient now.
By teaching, guiding, and supporting, your margin will become even richer. Growth is both an individual journey and a chain passed from person to person.
Comments