How to Read “Great prosperity is hard to maintain”
Taisei wa mamori gatashi
Meaning of “Great prosperity is hard to maintain”
“Great prosperity is hard to maintain” means that prosperity at its peak is difficult to sustain. When things reach their highest point, they may look stable on the surface.
But in reality, there’s no room left to rise higher. Instead, the risk of decline is actually at its greatest.
This proverb applies when a company hits record profits, when someone reaches the peak of their life, or when power reaches its maximum. It’s used precisely in situations where things “couldn’t be better.”
The saying warns us not to become arrogant in such moments. We must stay humble and prepare for the next change.
Even today, we see rapidly growing companies suddenly collapse. We watch athletes at their peak suddenly lose their edge. These examples never stop appearing.
This proverb teaches timeless wisdom. It shows that being at the top of success is actually the most dangerous position. It reveals just how difficult maintaining that state truly is.
Origin and Etymology
The exact source of this proverb has several theories. However, it likely reflects ideas from ancient Chinese philosophy, especially the teachings of Laozi.
Laozi explained the natural principle that “what is full will empty.” He developed the idea that excessive prosperity or abundance inevitably leads to decline.
The word “taisei” literally means “greatly prosperous” or prosperity at its peak. Meanwhile, “mamori gatashi” means “difficult to maintain.”
By combining these two phrases, the proverb expresses a paradoxical truth. The state of being at the height of glory is actually the most unstable.
In Japan, people have long observed natural phenomena. The full moon always begins to wane afterward. Cherry blossoms in full bloom quickly scatter.
Through such observations, Japanese people developed a sense of impermanence. They understood that “after the peak comes decline.” This proverb became deeply connected to this Japanese aesthetic and worldview.
The experiences of watching historical rulers rise and fall also shaped this saying. Those at their peak tend to become careless.
They also attract jealousy and opposition from others. This proverb captures these realities of human society in condensed form.
Usage Examples
- That company became the industry leader, but great prosperity is hard to maintain, and now they’re struggling
- He succeeded at a young age, but great prosperity is hard to maintain, so I worry about his future
Universal Wisdom
“Great prosperity is hard to maintain” has been passed down through generations. This happened because it perfectly captures human weakness and the principles of the world.
When people reach the peak of success, arrogance naturally emerges. This is almost an instinctive human response.
Their sense of crisis fades. They neglect their efforts. They become insensitive to changes around them.
The stronger the success experience, the more they cling to that successful pattern. This makes them slow to adapt to new situations.
Furthermore, jealousy and opposition from others reach their maximum at the peak. Those at the top inevitably become targets for many people. The danger of being pulled down increases significantly.
There’s also a structural problem. When you can’t rise any higher, any change means going down.
However, the true depth of this proverb goes beyond simple warning. It suggests a life philosophy about how to live after accepting the natural principle that “prosperity must decline.”
Knowing that eternal prosperity doesn’t exist allows us to appreciate our current success. We can humbly prepare for the next change.
Perhaps this attitude is the wisdom our ancestors truly wanted to convey.
When AI Hears This
The difficulty of maintaining large organizations or power can actually be explained by physical laws. It’s the law of entropy increase, the universal rule that “order always moves toward disorder.”
Like ink dropped in water that naturally spreads, orderly things become disorderly when left alone. This is a matter of probability.
For example, 100 parts neatly arranged has only one configuration. But those same parts scattered randomly have trillions of possible arrangements.
So if left to nature, things overwhelmingly move toward “scattered.” Large power structures and organizations work the same way.
The larger the scale, the more components exist. An organization of 10,000 people has exponentially more relationship and interest combinations than one with 100 people.
Unifying everyone’s will and keeping them facing the same direction requires enormous energy. If control loosens even slightly, the organization naturally disperses in various directions.
Physicists calculate that the cost of maintaining order increases proportionally to the square of the system’s scale. If an organization doubles in size, maintenance costs quadruple.
So “great prosperity” is physically hard to maintain. This isn’t due to human laziness but universal law.
Every great empire in history collapsed because they couldn’t resist this irreversible physical principle.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the importance of maintaining humility and crisis awareness, especially during successful times. If you’re experiencing a smooth period at work, that’s wonderful.
But it’s also the time to prepare for the next change.
Specifically, prosperous times are when you should learn new skills, expand your network, and explore new possibilities. Companies should invest in new businesses when their main business thrives, ensuring diversity.
Individuals shouldn’t rest on one success. They should maintain an attitude of continuous learning.
This proverb also teaches the importance of accepting the reality that “prosperity doesn’t last forever.” This isn’t pessimistic resignation.
Rather, it’s wisdom for truly appreciating and savoring current success.
Change is inevitable. But instead of fearing change, we prepare for it. When change comes, we accept it as a new possibility.
This flexible and positive attitude may be the most valuable message this proverb offers to those of us living in modern times.
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