How to Read “A flatterer resembles a wise person”
Neija wa kenja ni niru
Meaning of “A flatterer resembles a wise person”
This proverb means that cunning people often look like wise people at first glance. It warns us that someone who speaks skillfully and seems knowledgeable might actually be a flatterer who only acts for personal gain.
You can use this saying when you feel doubtful about someone’s words or actions. It serves as a reminder not to judge people based only on surface impressions.
This proverb works especially well when you want to emphasize the need to see someone’s true intentions and character, even if they say impressive things.
In modern society, many people use social media and other platforms to appear intelligent and righteous. However, we need to look at what lies behind their words and whether their actions match what they say.
This proverb teaches us not to judge people by appearance or words alone. It reminds us to take time to see their true nature. This wisdom matters more than ever in today’s world.
Origin and Etymology
Clear historical records about this proverb’s origin are limited. However, we can make interesting observations from how the words are structured.
The term “neisha” (flatterer) was an important concept in ancient Chinese Confucian thought. The character “nei” represents someone who is skillful with words and deceives others.
Confucius and other Confucian thinkers considered such people among the most dangerous. The Analects repeatedly warns that flatterers mislead rulers and bring chaos to nations.
This concept likely came to Japan during the Nara and Heian periods, when Confucianism was formally introduced. In aristocratic society at that time, competition for advancement at court was fierce.
Many people tried to gain favor with those in power through clever speech. For rulers, the ability to distinguish true wise people from flatterers who merely acted wise was crucial.
This proverb probably emerged from that historical background as a lesson about the importance of judging character. It expresses a timeless truth in simple words: you cannot see someone’s true nature from surface behavior alone.
This is why the saying has been passed down through generations.
Usage Examples
- He says impressive things in meetings, but a flatterer resembles a wise person, so I want to see his actual actions before judging
- That person’s words are persuasive, but a flatterer resembles a wise person, so let’s observe a bit longer
Universal Wisdom
Human society has always faced the problem of appearance versus reality. This proverb offers deep insight into two human abilities.
One is the ability to appear wise. The other is the ability to truly be wise. These two abilities do not always match.
Why can a flatterer resemble a wise person? Because arranging your outward appearance is easier in the short term than cultivating your inner self.
Displaying knowledge, speaking noble words, and talking about justice are much simpler than actually embodying these things.
Humans have a fundamental desire to be recognized and respected by others. True wise people spend long years building virtue and deepening wisdom.
Flatterers skip this process and try to imitate only the results. This is a human weakness and also a challenge that society has always faced.
This proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years because flatterers have existed in every era. And people have been repeatedly deceived by them.
Yet the very existence of this proverb shows that humans also possess the wisdom to distinguish real from fake. The attitude of not just looking at the surface but taking time to see the essence is the wisdom humanity has continued to refine.
When AI Hears This
A flatterer can resemble a wise person because of the huge difference in how easily information can be copied. Surface signals like “polite speech” or “calm demeanor” can be imitated quickly through observation.
In information theory terms, this is “low-bit information.” You can reproduce it by memorizing patterns of just tens to hundreds of bits.
However, the essence of a wise person comes from an “internal state” where thousands of past experiences and knowledge interweave in complex ways. They show consistency in changing their answers based on the person and situation.
They demonstrate judgment in seeing the essence from contradictory information. These require enormous amounts of information. If you try to imitate them, the number of states you must remember grows exponentially.
To perfectly act in 10 situations requires 100 patterns. For 100 situations, you need 10,000 patterns. The cost explodes.
This is about signal-to-noise ratio. In short observations, you only see the “signal” – the surface behavior. You cannot distinguish between the two.
But when you extend observation time or ask unexpected questions, “noise” appears. When flatterers encounter patterns they have not memorized, their responses suddenly become shallow or contradictory.
While wise people maintain a high signal-to-noise ratio, flatterers cannot maintain information consistency and their noise increases. The key to seeing through them is to increase the amount of information.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches you the importance of developing the ability to judge character. In today’s information-overloaded world, not rushing to judgment based on surface impressions or first impressions becomes especially important.
Specifically, when someone’s words impress you, pause and think. Does that person truly live according to those words? Do their words and actions match? Observing over time reveals things you could not see before.
This proverb also poses a question to yourself. Are you becoming a flatterer by trying too hard to appear wise? Are you just showing off knowledge, or do you truly understand and practice it?
The important thing is not seeking perfection. Everyone sometimes puts on airs and wants to look good. That is natural.
However, being aware of this matters. Continue the effort to gradually align your words and actions, even if progress is slow.
When viewing others, look not just at the surface but at their consistency and sincerity. This attitude will help you grow and build richer human relationships.
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