Even A Wise Person Has One Mistake In A Thousand Thoughts, And Even A Fool Has One Gain In A Thousand Thoughts: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Even a wise person has one mistake in a thousand thoughts, and even a fool has one gain in a thousand thoughts”

Chisha mo senryo ni kanarazu isshi ari, gusha mo senryo ni kanarazu ittoku ari

Meaning of “Even a wise person has one mistake in a thousand thoughts, and even a fool has one gain in a thousand thoughts”

This proverb teaches us about human nature. No matter how smart someone is, they will make at least one mistake if they think a thousand times.

On the flip side, even someone considered foolish will come up with at least one good idea if they think a thousand times.

People use this saying in two main situations. First, when an excellent person makes a mistake, it reminds us not to criticize them too harshly.

No one is perfect, so mistakes are natural. This offers comfort and understanding. Second, it teaches us to listen to opinions from people who aren’t usually in the spotlight or lack experience.

Today, this idea is especially important for teamwork and organizations. Leaders and experts aren’t always right. Ideas from newcomers and younger people have value too.

This connects to respecting diversity. The proverb teaches both humility and tolerance at once. Don’t fall into perfectionism, and don’t look down on others.

Origin and Etymology

This proverb likely comes from the ancient Chinese text “Records of the Grand Historian” (Shiji). The text contains a passage about the thoughts of wise and foolish people.

This passage traveled to Japan and became established there. The structure of this saying is fascinating. “A thousand thoughts” means thinking many, many times.

The contrast between “one mistake” and “one gain” is brilliant. A mistake means missing the target, representing failure. A gain means obtaining something, representing success.

This saying spread in Japan partly to warn against perfectionism. By accepting that even smart people fail, it teaches us not to fear failure too much.

At the same time, it expresses trust in human potential. Even people considered foolish sometimes have good ideas.

Books of moral teachings from the Edo period quote this proverb. It was passed down as education for samurai and wisdom for merchants.

Don’t demand perfection, and don’t look down on others. This balanced view of humanity has resonated with Japanese people for centuries.

Usage Examples

• Don’t blame the veteran employee for their mistake. Even a wise person has one mistake in a thousand thoughts, and even a fool has one gain in a thousand thoughts, right?
• The newcomer’s proposal got accepted. That’s exactly like Even a wise person has one mistake in a thousand thoughts, and even a fool has one gain in a thousand thoughts.

Universal Wisdom

This proverb has survived because it perfectly captures both human imperfection and human potential.

We all want to be perfect while simultaneously fearing failure. We look up to excellent people and sometimes put ourselves down.

But this proverb teaches us an important truth. Even the most talented people make mistakes. Even the most inexperienced people sometimes make wonderful discoveries.

The depth of this teaching isn’t just comfort. It’s a profound insight into human existence. Intelligence and experience certainly have value, but they aren’t absolute.

Wisdom can create blind spots. Ignorance can offer fresh perspectives. For human society to function well, we must recognize both sides.

Don’t blindly follow authority or status. But don’t underestimate yourself or others either. This balance is why the proverb has survived for centuries.

Accept the reality that no one is perfect. At the same time, hold hope that everyone has potential.

This seemingly contradictory yet harmonious perspective captures human nature. That’s why it resonates across time and touches our hearts today.

When AI Hears This

Wise people fail easily because past successes are engraved in their brains as “reward memories” in reinforcement learning. In machine learning, we call this “overfitting.”

For example, when a Go AI starts using only certain standard moves, it loses the moment someone develops a counter-strategy. A wise person’s failure is exactly this state of being stuck in exploitation mode.

They can’t break free from “known good moves.” Meanwhile, a fool’s success isn’t random. From a system-wide view, it’s inevitable.

In evolutionary biology, having some individuals who take “suboptimal actions” helps the group adapt to environmental changes. Fools function as exploration agents who try options that wise people ignore.

Even Google’s A/B testing intentionally shows “weird displays” to a few percent of users to discover unexpectedly good responses.

In information theory, the optimal ratio of exploration to exploitation can be calculated using the “Gittins index.” Interestingly, the higher the uncertainty, the more valuable exploration becomes.

When facing unknown problems, a wise person’s knowledge becomes a burden. A fool’s ignorance becomes a weapon. This reversal phenomenon is real.

If you’re thinking a thousand times, making a few “deliberately foolish choices” is actually the smarter long-term strategy.

Lessons for Today

This proverb teaches you the importance of freeing yourself from perfectionism. In work or study, we often aim for perfection.

But this only pressures us and steals our courage to take on challenges. Even smart people make mistakes, so you don’t need to fear failure.

At the same time, this proverb changes how we treat others. Do you dismiss opinions from inexperienced juniors or people outside your field?

Their words might contain important perspectives you’ve overlooked. Don’t judge people by titles or achievements alone. Listening to everyone’s voice is key to finding better answers.

Modern society values diversity. This isn’t just an ideal. As the proverb shows, it’s actually a source of real value.

Forgive your own failures. Trust others’ potential. Such humble and tolerant attitudes help you grow and enrich your relationships with people around you.