How to Read “Even with wisdom, it’s better to ride the momentum”
Chie ari to iedomo ikioi ni jozuru ni shikazu
Meaning of “Even with wisdom, it’s better to ride the momentum”
This proverb means that no matter how excellent your wisdom or talent may be, it cannot match catching the flow of the times or seizing a good opportunity.
It teaches that timing and the power of circumstances are greater than individual ability.
This saying is used when effort or talent alone cannot bring success, or when someone riding the current trends achieves great results.
You might hear it in contexts like “That person isn’t particularly outstanding, but they succeeded because they rode the wave of the times.”
Even today, no matter how good your ideas or technology are, you won’t succeed if the market timing isn’t right. This fact hasn’t changed.
On the other hand, if you can provide what the times demand at the right moment, it leads to great results.
This proverb shows the importance of having an eye for reading the times, alongside personal effort.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is believed to come from ancient Chinese classics. The literary expression “ari to iedomo” shows the strong influence of classical Chinese writing.
“Iedomo” is an old way of saying “even though,” a remnant of classical Chinese reading style. “Shikazu” is also a classical expression meaning “does not match.”
From this structure, we can guess it came to Japan through Chinese classical thought like Confucianism or military strategy books, then became established.
The word “ikioi” (momentum) deserves special attention. It doesn’t just mean personal momentum, but refers to the flow of the times and social movements—what we call “the trend of the times.”
Since ancient times, both China and Japan have valued concepts like the timing of heaven, the advantage of terrain, and the harmony of people.
The idea that even excellent wisdom cannot go against the great flow of the times is deeply rooted in Eastern historical perspective.
People who lived through turbulent periods like the Warring States era or the end of the shogunate must have keenly felt the importance of “obtaining the right time” more than individual talent.
Such experiential knowledge is condensed in this proverb. It has been passed down as practical teaching that wisdom alone is insufficient, and that riding the wave of the times is essential.
Usage Examples
- He doesn’t have any special talent, but “even with wisdom, it’s better to ride the momentum”—he succeeded because he started his business at just the right time
- No matter how much we prepare, they say “even with wisdom, it’s better to ride the momentum,” so we shouldn’t miss this wave of economic prosperity
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down for so long because it touches on a deep truth about human society.
We want to believe that “effort will be rewarded” and “talent leads to success,” but reality isn’t that simple.
Looking back at history, there were talented people who remained unknown because the times didn’t favor them. Meanwhile, people with average abilities achieved great success by riding the trends.
This may seem unfair, but it actually represents the essence of human society.
People don’t exist in isolation. We live within the great flow of our times.
No matter how excellent an individual is, their power cannot be demonstrated if it doesn’t match society’s movements or the demands of the era.
In other words, to maximize your abilities, you need the sense to read the times and catch the flow.
This proverb doesn’t deny individual effort. Rather, it teaches the importance of wisdom in determining the direction of your efforts.
No matter how hard you row, you can’t move forward against the tide. But if you read the tide and ride it, you can go far with little effort.
Our ancestors understood the importance of “timing” in life. This remains an unchanging, universal law of human society.
When AI Hears This
From a physics perspective, this proverb becomes a discussion of “kinetic energy efficiency.”
To move a stationary object, you need initial energy to overcome friction and inertia. For example, pushing a heavy box from a resting position is hardest at the very beginning.
Once it starts moving, you can keep pushing with less force. This is the difference between static and kinetic friction coefficients.
Numerically speaking, static friction is often 1.5 to 2 times greater than kinetic friction.
Even more interesting is the relationship with the law of conservation of momentum. When you apply force to an already moving object in the same direction, that force is used 100 percent for acceleration.
But starting from rest, most of the energy is consumed just “getting it moving,” with only a small amount actually used for forward progress.
In other words, with the same amount of effort, riding an existing flow produces overwhelmingly higher results.
We see the same structure in social phenomena. Joining a trend that’s already started produces many times the results with the same effort compared to creating a new trend from scratch.
What the laws of physics teach us is the cold fact that joining a system that already has kinetic energy is far more energy-efficient than using wisdom to start from a stationary state.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is that the ability to read the times is just as important as polishing your own abilities.
No matter how hard you work, if it doesn’t match what the times demand, your results will be limited.
But this isn’t a pessimistic message at all. It’s actually full of hope.
Why? Because if you can read the flow of the times and ride the wave, you can produce results beyond your own abilities.
In modern society, the speed of technological innovation and social change is accelerating. That’s why it’s important to keep your antenna high and stay sensitive to what’s happening in the world.
Make it a habit to constantly think: “What is needed now?” and “What will be required in the future?”
At the same time, preparation to move when opportunity comes is also crucial. It’s too late to learn how to swim after the wave arrives.
Build your strength through daily effort while sensing the winds of the times. Only when you have both can you achieve great results.
Don’t miss that moment when your talent and the demands of the times overlap.
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