How to Read “Gather by means of kind”
rui wo motte atsumaru
Meaning of “Gather by means of kind”
“Gather by means of kind” means that people with similar traits or circumstances naturally come together without even trying.
When people share hobbies, values, or ways of thinking, they find themselves gathering in the same places and forming groups.
This saying can be used in both positive and negative ways. Motivated people attract others who work hard. People who complain all the time attract others who are dissatisfied.
People use this proverb to explain a natural law of human relationships. It also teaches that you can understand yourself by looking at the people around you.
Even today, we see this phenomenon everywhere. SNS communities and hobby circles are perfect examples.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is believed to come from the ancient Chinese text “I Ching” (Book of Changes).
The I Ching contains the phrase “方以類聚、物以群分,” which means “things of the same direction gather together, and objects divide by their groups.” This philosophy came to Japan and took root as “Gather by means of kind.”
The word “rui” (類) refers to things that share the same type or nature. “Motte” (以て) is an old expression meaning “by means of” or “through.”
So the structure shows that people are naturally drawn together through having the same qualities.
In ancient China, people believed all things were classified by properties like yin-yang and the five elements. Things with the same properties would resonate with each other.
This natural law was thought to apply to human relationships too. Similar people gathering together wasn’t seen as intentional choice but as inevitable natural order.
The proverb contains a deep insight about this principle. Documents from Japan’s Edo period show this saying, proving it has been passed down for centuries as a truth about human nature.
Interesting Facts
There’s a similar expression: “rui wa tomo wo yobu” (類は友を呼ぶ), which literally means “kind calls friend.”
This version spread after the Meiji period. It’s more colloquial and casual. The meaning is almost the same, but “Gather by means of kind” sounds more formal and literary.
Psychology has proven the “law of similarity.” People tend to like others who share their characteristics.
Research shows we feel closer to people when we share values, hobbies, hometowns, or even similar-sounding names. The more we have in common, the more comfortable we feel.
This proverb’s truth is backed by science.
Usage Examples
- Lately I’ve been making more friends who love reading. I guess it’s true that we gather by means of kind.
- That company attracts only talented people. Since we gather by means of kind, the company culture must be excellent.
Universal Wisdom
“Gather by means of kind” reveals a fundamental law of human relationships.
When we’re with someone, we sense something unspoken. Values, energy levels, attitudes toward life. When these invisible wavelengths match, we naturally build comfortable relationships.
This law teaches us an important truth. The people around you reflect who you are right now.
Motivated people attract others who seek growth. People who constantly complain attract other negative people. This isn’t coincidence. It’s inevitable.
Humans fear loneliness. That’s why we seek people like ourselves and try to create safe spaces.
At the same time, we must remember that the atmosphere and energy we emit attracts certain people to us.
This proverb has been passed down for so long because it perfectly captures the essence of human relationships.
Thinking about what kind of person you want to be is the same as thinking about what kind of people you want to live with.
When AI Hears This
When similar people gather, the entire network actually becomes dangerous. Network theory calls this the “clustering trap.”
When people with the same hobbies, jobs, and ideas stick together, information circulates quickly within that group. But look closely and everyone only has the same information.
For example, during job hunting, students from the same university exchange information. But they’re all just looking at the same job websites.
Sociologist Granovetter’s research found something surprising. Most people who successfully changed jobs got their information from “acquaintances they rarely see.” Not from close friends, but from people they meet only a few times a year.
This discovery was shocking. Weak connections live in different worlds from us. That’s why they have information our own group could never access.
So gathering by kind creates comfort, but diversity of information is lost.
From an AI perspective, this resembles “overfitting.” When you train only on the same data, you get good at specific patterns but can’t handle new situations.
Human relationships work the same way. When you only stick with similar people, you create a fragile network that can’t adapt to change.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people that if you want to change yourself, you must first change your environment.
Look at the people around you right now. Do they reflect the future self you want to become?
If you want to grow, place yourself where people are already growing. If you want to try new things, join communities of people who are already trying.
At first, it might feel uncomfortable. But that’s because there’s a gap between who you are now and who you want to be. That gap is your chance to grow.
At the same time, this proverb teaches about the influence you emit. The people who gather around you are drawn to the energy you radiate.
That’s why it’s important to clarify what kind of person you want to be and what values you want to cherish.
When you change, your relationships naturally change too. That’s the other side of the law “Gather by means of kind.”
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