How to Read “Green rice fields and babies shouldn’t be praised”
Aota to akago wa homerarenu
Meaning of “Green rice fields and babies shouldn’t be praised”
“Green rice fields and babies shouldn’t be praised” means it’s hard to judge things that aren’t finished yet. You shouldn’t praise or judge something too early when it’s still growing.
This proverb warns against making quick judgments. Don’t assume a project will succeed just because it starts well. Don’t decide someone is talented too soon.
Even if things look great at first, you can’t really judge them until they’re complete. You need to see the final results first.
Today, this saying teaches us to be humble and careful. It reminds us to watch and wait before making judgments.
Things that are still growing can change in many ways. That’s why we shouldn’t judge them too quickly.
Origin and Etymology
There’s no clear written record of where this proverb came from. But we can learn a lot by looking at the words themselves.
“Green rice fields” means rice paddies when the plants are still green. In old Japan, rice farming was everything. But green fields faced many dangers.
Typhoons, droughts, and insects could destroy the crop. Even beautiful green fields might not produce a good harvest.
“Babies” means newborn infants. Long ago, medical care wasn’t good. Many babies died young.
Even healthy-looking babies might not survive. Parents couldn’t feel safe until their children grew up.
This proverb combines two precious things: food and children. Both represent hope for the future. But both are uncertain.
Our ancestors knew that hopeful things are risky to judge too early. This saying mixes both hope and caution together.
Usage Examples
- The new business plan looks good, but “Green rice fields and babies shouldn’t be praised”—let’s wait for real results
- People are already praising his talent, but “Green rice fields and babies shouldn’t be praised”—I want to watch him grow more first
Universal Wisdom
“Green rice fields and babies shouldn’t be praised” shows both our hopes and fears. We dream about the future but also worry about what might go wrong.
People have always struggled between wanting quick answers and accepting uncertainty. We want to believe good things will stay good.
When we see green rice plants, we dream of a big harvest. When we see a healthy baby, we imagine a bright future. This is natural.
But our ancestors also knew that hopes can be crushed. That’s why they taught us to stay careful while staying hopeful.
This isn’t about being negative. It’s about being humble. When we don’t expect too much, we protect ourselves from disappointment.
It also protects others. When we don’t praise too early, we don’t pressure people with our expectations.
Life doesn’t always go as planned. Things might look good or bad along the way, but you never know until the end.
This uncertainty is what life is all about. It helps us keep trying without giving up or getting careless.
When AI Hears This
In control engineering, positive feedback makes systems go out of control. For example, when a microphone gets too close to a speaker, it makes a loud screeching sound.
This happens because the sound keeps getting louder and louder without stopping.
Praising green rice fields or babies is like positive feedback. The key point is this: mature systems and immature systems react very differently to feedback.
Mature rice plants and adults have internal stability. They can handle praise without problems. But green rice fields are different.
If you praise green rice and give it too much fertilizer, the stems grow too tall and fall over. In control theory, this means they have low “gain margin.”
They can’t handle much change in input.
Babies are similar. Their developing nervous systems can’t adjust well to stimulation. Too much praise or expectation is positive feedback.
This can mess up the slow, steady growth curve they need. It might cause distorted development patterns.
This proverb understands a basic control theory principle. Immature systems need negative feedback—stable, restraining interactions—not positive feedback.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us the value of “the power to wait.” Today, social media gives instant judgments. Everyone wants quick results.
We’re losing the patience to watch things develop over time.
If you’re watching someone grow, don’t label them “good” or “bad” too quickly. In education or at work, people can surprise you with unexpected growth.
Who they are today isn’t who they’ll be tomorrow. Holding back judgment gives people room to change and grow. That’s kindness.
This teaching also helps when you’re being judged. If you feel immature now, remember—that’s just where you are right now.
Green fields become golden rice. Babies become capable adults. Don’t get too happy or sad about early judgments.
Keep believing in your own growth and keep moving forward.
Being unfinished means being full of possibilities. Remember this truth. Don’t rush. Don’t give up.
Watch your own growth and others’ growth with a warm heart.
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