How to Read “分別過ぐれば愚に返る”
Funbetsu sugureba gu ni kaeru
Meaning of “分別過ぐれば愚に返る”
This proverb means that overthinking or over-analyzing things can actually lead to foolish results.
While moderate judgment and thoughtfulness are important, when they go too far, one can lose sight of the original purpose or become unable to act. It warns against a state where one focuses only on thinking with the head, neglecting the wisdom that comes from intuition, emotions, and experience.
This proverb is used in situations where someone is overthinking things and becoming confused, or when they are caught up in logic and losing sight of the essence. It’s also used as advice for people who seek perfection too much and cannot take action. In modern terms, this applies to situations where one collects too much information and cannot make decisions, or where one only analyzes without taking action. It contains a deep life lesson that true wisdom lies in maintaining a balance between thinking and acting.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Discretion exceeding returns to foolishness” is thought to be rooted in ancient Chinese philosophical thought. This expression is believed to have a deep relationship with the concept of “Taikou jakusetsu” (great skill appears clumsy) from Laozi’s “Tao Te Ching.” This means “great skill appears like clumsiness,” teaching that true wisdom and skill appear simple at first glance.
In Japan, from the Heian period to the Kamakura period, such Chinese philosophy was widely accepted along with Buddhist thought. Particularly under the influence of Zen Buddhism, the concept of “non-discriminating discrimination” was emphasized, and the idea that the realm beyond excessive thinking and calculation is true wisdom became established.
The word “funbetsu” (discretion) itself did not mean “sorting garbage” as in modern usage, but anciently referred to “the wisdom to judge and distinguish things.” “Sugureba” means “if it exceeds,” and this expression was born as a warning that while moderate discretion is necessary, when it goes too far, one loses sight of the original purpose.
This proverb frequently appeared in moral books and instructional texts of the Edo period and became widely familiar among common people.
Interesting Facts
The word “bunbetsu” is read as “funbetsu” in Buddhist terminology, referring to the mental function of distinguishing and recognizing things. On the other hand, it’s often read as “bunbetsu” in general usage, and it’s interesting that the same characters have slightly different nuances depending on how they’re read.
Among Edo period merchants, there was also a similar expression “Kantou sugureba son wo suru” (excessive calculation leads to loss), which was familiar as practical wisdom that calculating too much in business would cause one to miss business opportunities.
Usage Examples
- He kept doing market research, and with discretion exceeding returns to foolishness, he ended up missing the business opportunity.
- Not being able to decide because you’re overthinking everything is exactly discretion exceeding returns to foolishness.
Modern Interpretation
In today’s information society, this proverb holds particularly important meaning. Now that we can collect infinite information on the internet, we face a new problem called “analysis paralysis.” More and more people cannot make decisions because they collect too much information in every situation – when considering job changes, starting investments, or even choosing romantic partners.
Social media overflows with others’ opinions and evaluations, and review sites display countless ratings. However, trying to analyze all this information can actually make us lose sight of what’s truly important. While data-driven decision-making is emphasized, the value of judgment based on intuition and experience is being reconsidered, which tells the modern meaning of this proverb.
Moreover, with the development of AI technology, we’ve entered an era where human judgment itself is being questioned. While machines can process vast amounts of data, final decisions require human-like “good moderation.” The courage to make decisions at appropriate points without seeking perfect analysis may be the wisdom required of modern people.
This proverb has new value as a warning to modern society that pursues efficiency and rationality.
When AI Hears This
The phenomenon of modern consumers reading dozens of reviews before buying a product, only to give up on the purchase because “there’s too much information to decide,” is exactly the modern version of this proverb.
According to the psychological theory called the “paradox of choice,” human decision-making ability drops sharply when choices exceed 24 options. For example, experimental results show that at a jam tasting booth, 30% of people made purchases when there were 6 varieties, but only 3% bought anything when there were 24 varieties.
In today’s internet society, this phenomenon has become even more severe. Even when choosing restaurants, people research star ratings, reviews, price ranges, and locations on Tabelog, check photos on Instagram, and ultimately end up not going anywhere because they’re “exhausted from overthinking.”
What’s particularly interesting is that information-gathering time and satisfaction levels are inversely related. Some studies show that products chosen intuitively in 5 minutes have higher satisfaction rates than those selected after 30 minutes or more of research.
In other words, people in the Edo period warned that “overthinking makes you stupid,” as if they had foreseen our modern smartphone society. In an age of infinite information, perhaps we need the courage to make decisions at reasonable stopping points.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of “balancing thinking and action.” Precisely because we live in an age overflowing with information, we need the courage to make decisions at appropriate points without trying to analyze everything.
Rather than seeking perfect answers, moving forward with 80-point solutions can sometimes produce better results. Whether in love or work, don’t just think with your head, but also listen to your heart’s voice and intuition. Your experience and feelings are more valuable judgment materials than any analysis.
This proverb also teaches the importance of “not fearing failure too much.” Rather than being unable to move while seeking perfection, life becomes richer when you act with the resolve to accept some failures. While thinking is important, what’s even more important is making decisions that are true to yourself and moving forward.
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