How to Read “Put wealth first and courtesy second, and the people will benefit”
takara wo saki ni shite rei wo nochi ni sureba tami risu
Meaning of “Put wealth first and courtesy second, and the people will benefit”
This proverb means that if you prioritize economic benefits and put etiquette and formalities second, ordinary people will receive real advantages.
In other words, it shows that you should focus on enriching people’s lives first, rather than obsessing over formal manners and ceremonies.
This saying is used in organizational management and policy decisions when practical benefits should take priority over formalities and appearances.
For example, you might use it when arguing that helpful policies should be implemented immediately rather than spending time on ceremonial procedures.
In modern times, this is understood as an approach that values efficiency and practicality.
Beautiful ideals and careful procedures matter, but if they become the goal itself and the people who need help get left behind, that defeats the purpose.
This proverb serves as a warning against such situations.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is thought to be influenced by ancient Chinese philosophy, particularly Legalism and practical theories of governance.
In ancient China, many debates took place about the ideal way to rule.
Confucians emphasized etiquette and morality, but there were also schools of thought that prioritized practical benefits.
“Put wealth first and courtesy second, and the people will benefit” expresses the argument that if rulers first provide economic prosperity to the people and put etiquette and moral education second, the people will gain real benefits.
This may seem to contradict Confucian values at first glance, but it might actually reflect a realistic view of governance.
Behind this saying lies the practical recognition that preaching etiquette to hungry people won’t touch their hearts.
It contains the observation that people can only afford to value spiritual matters and courtesy once their lives are stable.
This proverb points to the eternal challenge of governance: how to balance ideals with reality.
Usage Examples
- Rather than holding formal meeting after meeting, we should follow “Put wealth first and courtesy second, and the people will benefit” and allocate the budget to the field first
- In disaster relief, we prioritized quick delivery of supplies over procedures, following the spirit of “Put wealth first and courtesy second, and the people will benefit”
Universal Wisdom
The universal wisdom this proverb shows is a deep understanding of the hierarchy of basic human needs.
When people face survival anxiety, no matter how beautiful the ideals presented to them, they lack the mental space to accept those ideals.
This is a fundamental human truth that transcends time and culture.
Our ancestors knew the importance of speaking about ideals, but they also saw the limits of doing so.
Preaching morality to hungry people won’t reach their hearts. Demanding etiquette from people shivering in the cold is simply cruel.
This proverb contains a calm, observant eye toward human reality.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t reject courtesy at all.
“Putting courtesy second” doesn’t mean abandoning it. It’s about the order of things.
First establish a foundation for living, then cultivate spiritual richness on top of that.
This step-by-step approach is the wisdom for creating a sustainable society.
Only when people are satisfied do they gain the capacity to think about compassion for others and social harmony.
This proverb shows the difficulty of balancing idealism and realism, and demonstrates a deep understanding that both are necessary.
When AI Hears This
In the prisoner’s dilemma, two suspects each choose whether to confess or stay silent.
If both cooperate and stay silent, both get light sentences. But if you betray your partner and confess, you go free while they get punished.
However, if both betray each other, both end up with heavy sentences.
A society that puts wealth first has exactly the same structure as this one-time game.
When you chase immediate benefits, betrayal becomes rational, and everyone ends up losing.
What’s fascinating is that when you repeat this game, the situation completely changes.
In political scientist Axelrod’s experiments, the tit-for-tat strategy proved most successful.
This simple strategy cooperates first, continues cooperating if the other cooperates, and retaliates if betrayed.
In other words, when there’s a mechanism to remember and respond to the other’s actions, cooperation naturally emerges.
Putting courtesy first means building this memory device into society.
When norms like etiquette and trust exist, it becomes visible who cooperates and who betrays.
Then people start behaving cooperatively because they care about their reputation.
By prioritizing courtesy—long-term relationships—rather than wealth as immediate reward, society escapes the prisoner’s dilemma and shifts to the cooperative equilibrium of repeated games.
This isn’t just moral philosophy. It’s a rational strategy proven by game theory.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches you today is that things have a proper order.
No matter how wonderful an ideal or value may be, if you force it on someone who isn’t ready to accept it, you’ll only create resistance.
When you want to help someone, it’s important to identify what they truly need right now.
There are situations where concrete support is needed more than beautiful words or encouragement.
If you obsess over formalities and appearances so much that essential help gets delayed, it defeats the purpose.
At the same time, this proverb says to “put courtesy second,” not to abandon it entirely.
First provide practical support, then build trust and spiritual connections on that foundation.
This two-stage approach is the secret to building lasting relationships.
This proverb gives you the perspective to think about what should be the highest priority right now, so your goodwill truly helps others.
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