How to Read “Small profits are the enemy of large profits”
Shōri wa tairi no sokonai
Meaning of “Small profits are the enemy of large profits”
This proverb teaches that getting distracted by small gains in front of you leads to losing bigger profits in the end.
People easily get tempted by small, certain gains. But when you focus too much on these small wins, you often miss much bigger opportunities.
This saying applies to business decisions and life choices. It matters when you must decide between short-term and long-term thinking.
For example, it warns against losing customer trust over a small discount. Or missing a major investment opportunity because you obsess over minor savings.
The core message remains relevant today. Chasing immediate profits can destroy your future potential.
This proverb captures human weakness simply and clearly. It reminds us to avoid this trap with wisdom.
Origin and Etymology
No clear historical records document the exact origin of this proverb. However, the structure of the phrase offers interesting insights.
Let’s focus on the word “sokonai.” This is an archaic term meaning “to damage” or “to harm.” Modern Japanese rarely uses this expression.
The character “zan” (残) carries the meaning of “damaging” or “injuring.” It refers to making something incomplete or imperfect.
This proverb likely emerged from merchant wisdom. During the Edo period, commerce flourished in Japan.
The saying probably spread as a warning to merchants. It cautioned against jumping at small profits, losing credibility, and missing major business opportunities.
The contrast between “small profits” and “large profits” is particularly interesting. The proverb doesn’t just say “small” versus “large.”
It specifically uses the word “profit” to express the difficulty of economic decisions. There’s the certain small profit right in front of you.
Then there’s the large profit that exists only as an invisible possibility. Humans naturally seek certainty, so reaching for small profits makes psychological sense.
But our ancestors learned through long experience that giving in to this temptation leads to greater losses. They passed this wisdom down through this proverb.
Interesting Facts
The word “sokonai” is often replaced today with “sokonau” (損なう), which uses different characters. But traditionally, the character “zan” (残) was used.
This character expresses making something incomplete or damaged. It shows how something that should be whole becomes defective.
A similar phrase exists: “Small desires obstruct large desires.” This expresses the same truth from the perspective of desire rather than profit.
It means that small wants prevent the realization of bigger wants. Both sayings teach the same fundamental lesson.
Usage Examples
- I jumped at cheap supplies and lowered quality. Small profits are the enemy of large profits—I lost my regular customers.
- Spending time on side gigs for pocket money prevents me from developing skills in my main job. That’s exactly small profits are the enemy of large profits.
Universal Wisdom
Humans have a fundamental desire to obtain what is certain. Small profits right in front of you are guaranteed.
You can grab them immediately if you reach out. Large profits, however, are uncertain and require patient waiting.
This psychological asymmetry is exactly the trap this proverb warns against.
Why do people jump at small profits? Because they feel anxious. When the future is unclear, they don’t want to miss what they can get now.
This feeling is painfully understandable. But our ancestors saw that giving in to this anxiety actually invites greater losses.
This proverb has been passed down through generations because this human trait never changes across time.
Ancient merchants and modern businesspeople fight the same temptation. The sweet trap of immediate profit distorts human judgment in every era.
Yet this proverb also offers hope. If you can resist small profits, you might obtain large profits.
In other words, humans have freedom of choice. Wise decisions can change the future.
Our ancestors knew human weakness, but they also believed in human potential.
When AI Hears This
There’s a famous experiment called the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Two people both benefit if they cooperate.
But the one who betrays gains even more. In a single game, betrayal seems rational. But repeated games change everything.
Political scientist Axelrod ran an experiment competing various strategies by computer. The most successful strategy was “tit for tat.”
This simple rule cooperates first, then retaliates if the opponent betrays. Strategies that grab small profits every time lose trust long-term and create bigger losses.
The mathematical proof is fascinating. Say cooperation earns 3 points, betrayal earns 5 points temporarily, and mutual betrayal earns 1 point each.
Over 10 rounds, constant cooperation yields 30 points. But one betrayal gives you 5 points, then mutual distrust drops you to 1 point each round.
Your total falls to about 14 points. The small profit of 5 points destroys the large profit of 30 points.
This proverb recognizes that human relationships aren’t one-time events but repeated interactions. Choosing immediate gain changes the other person’s strategy.
It eliminates the option of future cooperation itself. Game theory proves this wisdom is mathematically correct.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the importance of having a clear standard for judgment.
We face constant temptation to seek small satisfactions. We want instant “likes” on social media. We want methods that show immediate results. We want to earn money right now.
But stop and think. What are you giving up for these small satisfactions?
Is it time to learn deeply? Opportunities to build meaningful relationships? Effort to develop truly valuable skills?
The key isn’t to completely reject small profits. Sometimes small joys are necessary.
But ask yourself if this is becoming a habit. Is it becoming an excuse to look away from bigger goals? This self-reflection matters.
What is the truly important “large profit” in your life? To avoid losing sight of it, why not reconsider today’s small choices?
The wisdom of our ancestors can illuminate the path to the future you truly desire.
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