How to Read “What has a beginning must have an end”
Hajime aru mono wa kanarazu owari ari
Meaning of “What has a beginning must have an end”
This proverb expresses an unavoidable truth about the world. Everything that begins will eventually end. No matter how wonderful something is, no matter how painful, nothing lasts forever.
This saying is used in two main situations. First, it serves as a reminder when good times continue. We should remember that even happiness will eventually end.
Second, it offers comfort to people facing hardship. Their current suffering will also come to an end. This gives them hope to keep going.
Today, people quote this proverb in many situations. Project completions, changing relationships, and life transitions all reflect this wisdom.
Recognizing that nothing lasts forever helps us avoid excessive attachment. It prepares our hearts to accept change. At the same time, it encourages us to treasure each moment we have.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb connects deeply to Buddhist thought, especially the teaching of “impermanence.” Buddhism teaches that all phenomena in this world arise and fade away. Everything begins and ends. This concept has deeply influenced Japanese worldview.
The opening line of The Tale of the Heike famously expresses this idea. “The sound of the Gion temple bells echoes the impermanence of all things.” This epic story depicts the rise and fall of the powerful Taira clan.
Through historical events, it demonstrates the truth that what begins must end. The Taira clan reached the height of glory, only to face complete destruction.
Similar ideas appear in ancient Chinese philosophy too. Laozi’s thought includes the concept of “mutual arising of being and non-being.” Beginning and end, life and death exist as pairs.
This cyclical view of time is common throughout Eastern philosophy. It forms the background of this proverb.
The structure of the phrase itself is remarkably simple. It connects the opposing concepts of “beginning” and “end” with the universal subject “what exists.” This creates an absolute truth with no exceptions.
This simplicity is one reason the proverb has remained in people’s hearts for so long.
Usage Examples
- These happy days follow the truth that what has a beginning must have an end, so let’s treasure each moment
- If I remember that what has a beginning must have an end, I can endure this difficult exam preparation a little longer
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down through generations for a profound reason. Humans fundamentally seek “eternity” while being unable to achieve it. We want happy moments to last forever. We desperately wish to escape suffering immediately.
But reality is different. Both happiness and pain must eventually end.
Accepting this truth is actually very difficult for humans. Parting from loved ones, the end of glory, the close of youth. We often turn away from reality because we don’t want to acknowledge endings.
Conversely, when we’re in the midst of suffering, we feel despair. It seems like this painful state will continue forever.
However, our ancestors realized something important. Facing this unavoidable truth directly is the wisdom for living a rich life. Because things end, this present moment becomes precious.
If something lasted forever, we couldn’t appreciate its value. We would take it for granted.
Thinking even deeper, every ending is also a new beginning. When one chapter closes, the next chapter opens. This cycle is the essence of life itself.
This proverb quietly teaches us the courage to accept change without fear. Humans are beings that change, and growth exists within that change. This universal truth is embedded in these simple words.
When AI Hears This
Even when you clean your room, it inevitably becomes messy again if left alone. This isn’t simply a problem of laziness. It happens because of a fundamental law of the universe called the second law of thermodynamics.
This law declares that “entropy, or disorder, must always increase.”
A neatly organized room is actually an extremely unnatural state. Books lined up on shelves, clothes folded in drawers—this represents just one special arrangement among countless possible configurations.
Meanwhile, a messy room has infinite arrangement patterns. Thinking probabilistically, things naturally move toward disorder. This is overwhelmingly more likely.
When you drop a coffee cup, it breaks. But the scattered pieces on the floor will never spontaneously reassemble into the original cup. This never happens.
The essence of this proverb is that a beginning is a low-entropy state created by intentionally injecting energy. A new building, a brand-new machine, a young living organism—all are highly organized special states.
But the laws of the universe are merciless. They relentlessly push these back toward ordinary high-entropy states. The end is not a choice. It’s an inevitability guaranteed by physical laws.
The reason time flows in only one direction is also because of this entropy increase. It’s built into the fabric of reality itself.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people to embrace change and treasure the present. We see others’ glamorous lives on social media and feel anxious. We might overconfidently assume our happiness will last forever.
But knowing that everything has an end helps us view life more calmly. We gain perspective.
Modern society especially demands the courage to accept endings. Career changes, relocations, shifting relationships—we experience many “endings” throughout life.
We shouldn’t view these only as failures or losses. If we can see them positively as preparation for the next beginning, life becomes much lighter. We move forward with less burden.
At the same time, this proverb offers great hope to people in difficult times. Your current suffering is not eternal. It will definitely end.
With that certainty, you can find the strength to persevere a little longer. The knowledge itself becomes power.
Most importantly, this proverb teaches us the value of “now.” Because things end, this present moment shines brightly. Time with loved ones, work you’re passionate about, moments of genuine laughter—don’t take these for granted.
Savor each one as you live. That is the greatest gift this proverb offers us. It’s an invitation to live fully in each precious moment.
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