How to Read “Use wisdom, use courage, use greed, use foolishness”
chi wo tsukai yū wo tsukai don wo tsukai gu wo tsukau
Meaning of “Use wisdom, use courage, use greed, use foolishness”
This proverb teaches that wisdom, courage, greed, and foolishness can all be useful when applied in the right place. At first glance, wisdom and courage seem good, while greed and foolishness seem bad. But that’s not actually true.
Depending on the situation, a greedy person’s attachment can become persistence. A foolish person’s simplicity can become decisive action without hesitation.
People use this proverb when recognizing diverse human qualities and trying to make the most of each person’s characteristics. It carries great meaning when organizational leaders consider personnel placement. It also matters when someone tries to accept their own various aspects.
Today, people emphasize respecting individuality and the importance of diversity. But this proverb showed this wisdom hundreds of years ago. No one is perfect. What matters is the perspective of how to make use of each person’s unique qualities.
Origin and Etymology
Clear records about the exact source of this proverb don’t seem to exist. However, looking at the structure of the phrase, it likely received influence from classical Chinese thought, especially military strategy and governance.
The format of arranging four elements – wisdom, courage, greed, and foolishness – in parallel is an expression method often found in ancient Chinese philosophical texts. What’s especially noteworthy is this: wisdom and courage are generally considered virtues, while greed and foolishness are considered flaws. Yet this proverb treats them all equally.
Behind this idea lies a pragmatic philosophy that doesn’t distinguish between good and evil in human nature. Instead, it views everything as tools. This way of thinking connects to military strategy books from the Warring States period and to leadership studies for rulers.
Those in positions of authority needed to see not only people’s strengths but also their weaknesses. They had to use each characteristic appropriately in suitable situations.
After reaching Japan, this wisdom may have been passed down in warrior society as guidance for personnel selection. For those leading organizations, how to make use of diverse talent is an eternal challenge. This proverb offers one answer to that question.
Usage Examples
- He seems stubborn and inflexible at first, but with the spirit of “Use wisdom, use courage, use greed, use foolishness,” we applied his honesty to quality control and it was a huge success
- I was only noticing my team members’ flaws, but thinking “Use wisdom, use courage, use greed, use foolishness,” I realized each person has an optimal role
Universal Wisdom
Human beings are mysterious creatures. Everyone possesses both strengths and weaknesses. Yet we tend to divide qualities into “good traits” and “bad traits.” The deep insight this proverb offers lies beyond such dualism.
Wise people can be too cautious to act. Brave people can become reckless. Greedy people have obsession for achieving goals. Foolish people have the power to push forward without overthinking. In other words, qualities themselves have no absolute good or evil. The question is how you use them.
This wisdom has been passed down for so long because it touches the essence of human society. In organizations and families alike, people with various personalities gather together. Conflict and dissatisfaction arise because we only see each other’s differences as flaws. But if you change your perspective, those differences become possibilities.
Our ancestors understood this truth. Rather than seeking perfect people, they knew that greater power emerges when imperfect people each demonstrate their unique qualities. This is wisdom for utilizing human resources. It’s also wisdom for accepting yourself. All the various aspects within you can be useful too.
When AI Hears This
Information theory has an interesting phenomenon called stochastic resonance. When you deliberately add noise to a signal too weak to detect, the signal actually becomes easier to detect. For example, if you mix static with a sound too quiet to hear, the brain can recognize the sound. This was mathematically proven in the 1980s.
The “greed” and “foolishness” this proverb mentions can be considered noise in an organization. An organization full of only wise people actually tends to miss optimal solutions. Why? Because when everyone uses the same logic and faces the same direction, they fall into local optimization.
However, when a greedy person makes an unexpected proposal saying “I want more profit,” or when a foolish person questions the obvious asking “Why?”, fluctuation enters the system.
In Shannon’s information theory, information quantity is measured by “unpredictability.” In other words, predictable wise people alone don’t easily generate new information. When the noise of greedy desire and the noise of illogical foolishness are added, the organization can discover unexpected solutions.
Modern machine learning also uses techniques that deliberately add random noise to optimization algorithms. Diversity rather than perfection improves overall system performance. This mathematical fact supports the wisdom of utilizing human diversity.
Lessons for Today
Modern society often seeks a uniform ideal of “excellent talent.” But this proverb teaches us a more flexible and richer view of humanity.
If you’re in a position to manage others, don’t focus on members’ flaws. Instead, think about how to make use of their characteristics. Assign risk management to overly cautious people. Give new business development to those who charge ahead. Each person has a place where they can shine.
The same applies to yourself. You don’t need to deny the various aspects within you. Sometimes be cautious, sometimes be bold, sometimes persist, sometimes be straightforward. Using different sides of yourself according to the situation enriches your life.
What matters is becoming free from the fixed idea that “this is correct.” Human qualities have no absolute superiority or inferiority. Everything depends on how you use it. By holding this flexible perspective, you can understand both yourself and others more deeply.
That is the most valuable gift this proverb offers to those of us living today.
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