How to Read “Even a horse that runs a thousand miles stumbles”
Senri no uma mo ketsumadzuku
Meaning of “Even a horse that runs a thousand miles stumbles”
This proverb means that even highly capable people can fail. Like a famous horse that runs a thousand miles, no matter how talented someone is or how many achievements they have accumulated, they can still fail due to a moment of carelessness or an unexpected situation.
This proverb is used in two main situations. First, when an excellent person fails, it comforts them or shows understanding that failure can happen to anyone.
Second, it serves as a warning to capable people, cautioning them against complacency and overconfidence.
Even today, this expression remains relevant when athletes make mistakes in important games or when excellent business professionals make poor judgments.
This proverb gently yet firmly teaches us the reality that no one is perfect.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb in historical texts is unclear. However, the composition of the phrase reveals an interesting background.
“A horse that runs a thousand miles” refers to a famous horse that can run a thousand ri in one day. In ancient China, such excellent horses were extremely precious. Only royalty and nobility could own these treasures.
A horse that could run the incredible distance of a thousand ri was the perfect symbol of flawless ability.
“Ketsumadzuku” means to trip or stumble by catching one’s foot on something. Today, “tsumadzuku” is more common. But in ancient times, this expression combining “keru” (to kick) and “tsumadzuku” (to stumble) was used.
This proverb likely emerged from observations of human society. It shows that even seemingly perfect beings can fail unexpectedly.
Even the finest horse can lose its footing on a single pebble or a slight step. This image teaches us that high ability and the possibility of failure are never unrelated.
After reaching Japan, this saying was used both as a warning to excellent people like warriors and scholars, and as words of comfort for those who had failed.
Interesting Facts
“A horse that runs a thousand miles” would actually need to run about 4,000 kilometers in one day, which is physically impossible.
However, in ancient times, this exaggerated expression was the highest praise for describing unparalleled excellence. By depicting an ideal existence beyond reality, the universal nature of the lesson was actually enhanced.
The word “ketsumadzuku” carries meaning beyond simple failure. The inclusion of the action “keru” (to kick) suggests a failure that happens precisely because one is actively moving forward.
If you stay still, you won’t stumble. The possibility of failure arises because you take on challenges.
Usage Examples
- He was the top salesman in the industry, but even a horse that runs a thousand miles stumbles—he lost this major contract
- Even Olympic gold medalists prove that even a horse that runs a thousand miles stumbles, so it’s natural for us to fail
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years because it touches on two truths deep in the human heart.
The first is the conflict between our longing for perfection and the reality that we cannot be perfect. We humans always want to become better.
We work hard, polish our skills, and gain experience, believing that someday we can become perfect. But in reality, even the most excellent people fail.
This proverb teaches us this unavoidable truth through the beautiful metaphor of a famous horse running a thousand miles.
The second is the complex emotions humans have toward failure. When excellent people fail, we feel both relief and sympathy.
The thought “even that person fails” becomes a comfort that allows us to forgive our own failures. At the same time, it functions as a warning to capable people.
Carelessness can visit anyone, and in that moment, years of effort can come to nothing.
What this proverb shows is the wisdom to accept human imperfection. Aim for perfection while not fearing failure too much.
When you fail, accept it as part of being human. This exquisite sense of balance is the treasure our ancestors left us.
When AI Hears This
A famous horse stumbling after running a thousand miles is not mere bad luck. It can be understood as a structural problem inherent in high-performance systems.
Normal Accident Theory in complexity science explains that as systems become more sophisticated, unpredictable failures inevitably occur.
When we view the famous horse as a high-performance system, interesting characteristics emerge. To run fast, numerous elements like muscles, nerves, breathing, and balance are optimized to their limits.
In other words, each part operates in tight coordination with no margin for error. This is the same structure sociologist Charles Perrow analyzed in nuclear plant accidents and Space Shuttle disasters.
Even if individual components are perfect, when A, B, and C overlap at a specific timing, an unexpected chain reaction occurs that no one predicted.
A small pebble that wouldn’t trouble an ordinary horse becomes fatal to a famous horse galloping at 60 kilometers per hour. During high-speed running, each landing takes less than 0.1 seconds.
If road surface irregularities, minute muscle fatigue, and wind direction changes overlap in this instant, an uncontrollable stumble occurs.
As the price for pushing performance to the limit, the entire system becomes vulnerable to unpredictable combination failures. This is the core of Normal Accident Theory and the truth this proverb has pointed out for a thousand years.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of humility and tolerance.
If you are currently achieving excellent results in some field, this proverb offers an important warning. The more success continues, the more we unconsciously let our guard down.
A small moment of thinking “this much is fine” can lead to unexpected failure. That’s why, no matter how many achievements you accumulate, you must never forget to value the basics and approach each task sincerely.
On the other hand, if you witness someone’s failure, this proverb gives you a kind perspective. When you see an excellent person fail, don’t criticize them.
Instead, understand that “this could happen to anyone.” That tolerance creates a better society.
Most importantly, consider how you face your own failures. When you fail, you don’t need to feel down thinking “I have no ability.”
Even a horse that runs a thousand miles stumbles. What matters is getting up and running again. Failure is not the end, but a stepping stone to the next success.
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