How to Read “Great leaders establish virtue”
Daijō wa toku wo tatsuru ari
Meaning of “Great leaders establish virtue”
“Great leaders establish virtue” teaches that the most valuable thing in life is cultivating virtue and improving yourself. It says that developing your character and morality as a person is the highest way to live, more important than chasing status, honor, or wealth.
This proverb reminds us what truly matters when we get caught up in visible success and external recognition. No matter how high someone’s social position, people without virtue never earn true respect.
On the other hand, even those in modest positions naturally gain trust and affection from others when they have virtue.
In modern times, this message becomes even more important in a culture that emphasizes efficiency and results. People use this saying when showing the importance of fundamental human values like improving your inner self, being honest, and caring for others.
Origin and Etymology
The exact source of this proverb has several theories, but its structure reveals an interesting background.
The term “daijō” refers to the most excellent thing, the highest rank. “Toku wo tatsuru” means to establish virtue or build up virtue. This expression shows the influence of classical Chinese writing.
The use of the verb “tatsuru” connects deeply with Confucian concepts like “risshin” (establishing oneself) and “rittoku” (establishing virtue).
Confucianism has always placed the highest value on acquiring virtue through personal cultivation. The philosophy of “shūshin seika chikoku heika” especially teaches that cultivating yourself comes first as the foundation of everything.
This proverb likely emerged from this flow of traditional East Asian values.
The ending word “ari” doesn’t make a definite statement but means “exists.” It contains a philosophical claim that the highest thing exists in establishing virtue.
This phrase embodies the deep insight of our ancestors that human virtue, not power or wealth, represents the highest value.
Usage Examples
- He believes that great leaders establish virtue rather than pursuing promotion, so he focuses his energy on developing his subordinates
- In my youth I only chased success, but now I live each day with the words great leaders establish virtue in my heart
Universal Wisdom
The saying “Great leaders establish virtue” has been passed down through the ages because people have always faced the question “What truly has value?”
Everyone seeks visible results and recognition from others. This is an extremely natural desire connected to our survival instinct.
But at the same time, a voice deep in our hearts seeks deeper satisfaction. Many people have experienced the emptiness of gaining wealth or fame yet still feeling unfulfilled.
Our ancestors saw through this fundamental human conflict. When we desperately try to decorate our exterior, we actually distance ourselves from who we really are.
True fulfillment comes from the sense that our inner self is growing and we’re living honestly as a person.
This proverb shows the essence of human happiness. Cultivating virtue means facing yourself honestly and working to become a better person.
This path is never easy, but only by walking it can people gain true dignity and peace. Our ancestors condensed this universal truth into simple words and passed it down to us.
When AI Hears This
The phenomenon where more people gather around virtuous leaders is a mathematical inevitability explained by network science. In networks, nodes with many connections have a higher probability of gaining new connections.
For example, someone new to social media is far more likely to follow an account with one million followers than one with 100 followers. This is called “preferential attachment.”
What’s interesting is that when this mechanism works, the distribution of connections follows a “power law.” This means if there are 100 accounts with 10,000 followers, there will be 10 accounts with 100,000 followers and 1 account with one million followers.
Extreme inequality emerges naturally. Internet link structures, paper citation counts, and city population distributions all show the same pattern.
The important point this proverb suggests is that inequality continues expanding even without special effort from those at the top. Each time a new node joins the network, existing hubs automatically increase their connections.
Probabilistic calculations show that a node with twice as many connections has about twice the probability of gaining new connections. In other words, once you reach the top, that position strengthens at an accelerating rate.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us the courage to reconsider our life priorities. In our daily lives worrying about social media likes and feeling anxious comparing ourselves to others, aren’t we losing sight of what truly matters?
Cultivating virtue is never rigid training. It’s keeping promises, not lying, listening seriously to people, and reaching out to those in trouble.
It’s the accumulation of small daily choices. These may seem plain, but they build the foundation of who you are as a person.
Modern society tends to value only things that show immediate results. But human depth and trust cannot be built overnight.
Taking time to develop your inner self is never wasted. Looking at your whole life, it becomes your most reliable treasure.
You can start something today. When choosing each action, try asking yourself, “Will this increase my virtue?” That accumulation will surely guide you toward a truly rich life.
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