How to Read “Don’t create hell rather than wish for paradise”
Gokuraku negawan yori jigoku tsukuru na
Meaning of “Don’t create hell rather than wish for paradise”
This proverb teaches that avoiding wrongdoing is more important than pursuing ideals. Having high goals and wishing for a happy future is wonderful.
But first, you should focus on not doing bad things. The proverb shows us this priority.
It’s a practical life lesson. Rather than having noble aspirations like wishing for paradise, it’s more urgent not to commit evil deeds that would send you to hell.
People use it as a warning for those who chase ideals while neglecting basic ethics and morality.
Today, people use this saying when someone only talks about dreams and goals. It reminds them to do what needs to be done right now.
It also applies when teaching the importance of avoiding failure and problems before seeking great success.
The proverb expresses that avoiding evil passively is more fundamental than actively doing good.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, it clearly shows strong influence from Buddhist thought.
The saying uses contrasting Buddhist terms “paradise” and “hell.” This suggests it arose among common people after Buddhism took root in Japan.
Paradise refers to the ideal world where one can be reborn after death. Hell refers to the world of suffering where one falls as punishment for evil deeds.
What’s interesting is that the proverb doesn’t say “don’t wish for paradise.” It doesn’t reject wishing for paradise itself.
Instead, it shows priority by saying “before that.” This connects with practical Buddhist teachings.
The expression “create hell” is also noteworthy. Hell doesn’t exist naturally.
Your own actions “create” it. This reflects the idea of cause and effect.
If you commit evil deeds, they bring results that make you suffer.
Buddhist teachings were probably condensed into an easy-to-understand form in people’s daily lives. It became a warning for those who chase ideals while neglecting what’s right in front of them.
Usage Examples
- He only talks about his dream of hitting it big with a startup. But “don’t create hell rather than wish for paradise”—he should pay off his debts first.
- Having big goals is good, but as they say, “don’t create hell rather than wish for paradise.” Let’s start by keeping small daily promises.
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down for generations because it sharply perceives a fundamental human tendency. Everyone loves to imagine a bright future or an ideal version of themselves.
Talking about dreams is fun and full of hope. But at the same time, steady effort and daily ethical choices feel dull and bothersome.
Here lies a deep contradiction in human psychology. We wish for happiness while sometimes taking actions that destroy that happiness.
We dream of great success while getting involved in small dishonest acts. We wish to be loved while speaking words that hurt others.
Such contradictions are unchanging human weaknesses across all times and places.
Our ancestors understood this human nature. Pursuing ideals is easy, but avoiding evil is difficult.
Why? Because evil often appears before us as a shortcut or an easy choice. And once you step off the path, they knew it could lead to irreversible consequences.
That’s why they taught us to prioritize not creating hell—in other words, avoiding evil. This isn’t a passive teaching.
It’s active wisdom showing a reliable path to happiness.
When AI Hears This
Cleaning your room is hard work, but it gets messy quickly if you leave it alone. This phenomenon actually happens according to the same principle that governs the entire universe.
According to the second law of thermodynamics, entropy—or disorder—in an isolated system always increases over time. In other words, orderly states naturally collapse if left alone.
Let’s think about this with concrete numbers. Suppose you have 10 books in your room. There’s only one way to arrange them neatly.
But there are millions of ways for them to be scattered. Probabilistically speaking, moving toward disorder is natural.
To create order, you need to pour enormous energy into going against this flow of probability.
The essence of this proverb lies exactly here. Creating a good state—paradise—requires conscious effort and energy.
Meanwhile, a bad state—hell—approaches on its own even if you do nothing. The same applies to human relationships and organizations.
Building trust takes a long time, but it breaks in an instant.
From a physics perspective, this proverb expresses not just a moral teaching but the workings of the universe itself.
Maintaining order costs energy, but destruction costs zero. That’s why avoiding destruction is actually a more rational strategy than creation.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the importance of building life’s foundation. We tend to focus only on “paradise”—career success, economic wealth, and social recognition.
But first, we need to reflect on whether we’re living in a way that “doesn’t create hell.”
Specifically, this means keeping promises with others, not lying, not hurting people, and not cutting corners. This basic honesty is the foundation that supports your life.
No matter how high your goals are, everything collapses if this foundation crumbles.
Modern society overflows with success tips and methods for achieving dreams. But what’s truly important might be methods for not failing, not losing trust, and not creating regrets.
These may seem plain, but they’re actually the most reliable path leading you to happiness.
Starting today, before chasing big dreams, why not accumulate small acts of honesty? That will become the power that truly makes your future shine.
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