How to Read “Lend your seal, but never guarantee a person”
Han wo kasu tomo hitouke suru na
Meaning of “Lend your seal, but never guarantee a person”
This proverb strongly warns against the dangers of becoming a guarantor. Lending your personal seal to someone is already risky. But becoming a guarantor is even more dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
When you become a guarantor, you take on all the debt if the borrower cannot repay. This is not just about kindness or friendship. It is an act that puts your life and your family’s well-being at risk.
No matter how much you trust someone, no one can predict the future. Even today, many people have their lives destroyed by taking on huge debts as guarantors.
This proverb teaches the terrible consequences of carelessly agreeing to guarantee someone. You might not want to damage your relationship with them. The situation might make it hard to say no.
But to protect yourself and your family, you need to stand firm. This is harsh but realistic wisdom.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb is unclear. But it likely spread during the Edo period’s commercial society. “Lend your seal” means letting someone use your personal stamp. “Guarantee a person” means becoming a guarantor.
In the Edo period, personal seals were crucial proof of trust and responsibility. Stamping your seal on business deals or contracts meant staking your entire fortune and honor on a promise.
However, if you only lent your seal, you could somewhat control what it was used for. In the worst case, the damage would be limited.
Becoming a guarantor was different. It meant you had to pay the full amount if the borrower could not. In Edo period merchant society, many families went bankrupt because someone became a guarantor.
This proverb was born from such harsh reality. It carries the painful warning of our ancestors. Even lending your seal is dangerous. But becoming a guarantor is far riskier and must be absolutely avoided.
As commerce developed and credit transactions became common, this wisdom became especially important.
Interesting Facts
In the Edo period, the guarantor system was called “ukenin.” It was always required when hiring servants or borrowing money. If the person ran away or could not repay, the guarantor bore full responsibility.
Being asked to become a guarantor was considered the ultimate test of relationships. Refusing was never seen as rude.
In modern Japan, guarantors are still required for rental contracts and scholarships. But recently, more people use guarantee companies instead. This shows that the risks of personal guarantees are now widely recognized.
Usage Examples
- My best friend asked me to be a guarantor. But I remembered “Lend your seal, but never guarantee a person” and politely declined.
- Even if they are relatives, “Lend your seal, but never guarantee a person” is true. I have no choice but to tell them I cannot be a guarantor.
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down because it contains a deep truth about human relationships. It addresses the eternal question of where to draw the line between goodwill and responsibility.
Humans are social creatures who survive by helping each other. But there are limits to mutual help. If you sink yourself, you cannot help anyone. This proverb teaches that cold reality.
What is interesting is how strongly humans feel they “cannot refuse.” Japanese society especially values relationships. People tend to sacrifice themselves to meet others’ expectations.
But becoming a guarantor is not just a temporary sacrifice. It can have permanent consequences.
This proverb also suggests something about the nature of trust. Some think you should become a guarantor if you truly trust someone. But that is a misuse of trust.
Trust means respecting someone’s character. It does not mean betting your life on them.
Our ancestors refined this wisdom while witnessing many tragedies. Sometimes the courage to judge calmly, without being swayed by emotion, leads to true compassion.
When AI Hears This
The two actions in this proverb hide a mathematically fatal structure. It is the asymmetry of “fixed maximum gain but infinite maximum loss.”
For example, when you become a guarantor, the best outcome is just words of thanks. Your gain is close to zero. But if the person cannot repay, you pay the full amount.
If the debt is one million yen, you pay one million. If it is one hundred million, you pay one hundred million. There is no upper limit to your loss.
In game theory, this becomes “a game you should never play” because the expected value is always negative.
Even more interesting is the agency problem structure. When a guarantor exists, the borrower’s behavior changes. The sense of security that “someone is guaranteeing me” reduces their seriousness about repayment.
It is like how people drive more recklessly after getting insurance. The moment you become a guarantor, the person’s repayment probability drops and your risk increases. This is an ironic structure.
Lending your seal works the same way. You provide your credit as an asset for free. But if they misuse it, your loss is infinite.
Modern behavioral economists prove this dangerous structure with formulas. Ancient people saw through it with experience alone.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches you the importance of balancing kindness with self-protection. The desire to help people is beautiful. But helping in ways that shake your life’s foundation ultimately helps no one.
In modern society, there are situations similar to being a guarantor. Investing in a friend’s business, lending large sums to acquaintances, carelessly co-signing loans. Opportunities to be exploited through goodwill are surprisingly common.
Having the courage to say “no” in these situations is not cold. It is responsible action to protect yourself and your family.
What matters is that refusing and abandoning someone are different things. Even if you cannot be a guarantor, you can help in other ways.
You can think through solutions together, introduce experts, or provide emotional support. There are many ways to help without taking on risk.
This proverb teaches you to have calm judgment. Do not be swayed by emotion, but do not lose your humanity either. Learn the wisdom to live smartly.
That is the most reliable way to walk steadily through a long life.
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