How to Read “If you deceive others, you will be deceived by others”
Hito o hakareba hito ni hakararu
Meaning of “If you deceive others, you will be deceived by others”
This proverb means that those who try to deceive others will eventually be deceived themselves. It teaches that using schemes to trick people will ultimately come back to harm you.
Deceiving others might work in the short term. However, such dishonest behavior will always be noticed by those around you, and you will lose their trust.
When you lose trust, you eventually find yourself in a position where others deceive you. This happens because dishonest people attract other dishonest people, creating relationships filled with mutual suspicion.
This lesson remains important in modern society. In business and personal relationships, deceiving others for short-term gain puts your position at risk in the long run.
This proverb warns us that honesty is ultimately the best way to protect yourself.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb has several theories, but its structure offers interesting insights. The word “hakararu” has long meant “to scheme” or “to deceive through strategy.”
The expression’s key feature is how the first and second halves mirror each other perfectly. The structure of “if you deceive others” and “you will be deceived by others” clearly expresses the idea of cause and effect.
The concept that actions you take toward others return to you connects deeply with Buddhist karma and Confucian moral philosophy.
In Japan since ancient times, deceiving others was considered going against the natural order. People widely believed that such actions would inevitably bring consequences.
This proverb likely emerged to convey this moral lesson in a simple, memorable form.
Using the passive form “hakararu” emphasizes the cycle where the deceiver inevitably becomes the deceived. The structure itself brilliantly expresses this reversal of roles.
The proverb captures the importance of trust in human society and the consequences of dishonesty in just a few characters. This demonstrates the deep insight of our ancestors’ wisdom.
Usage Examples
- That person made money by deceiving business partners, but “if you deceive others, you will be deceived by others”—now another vendor has betrayed him
- I spread false rumors to trap my rival, but “if you deceive others, you will be deceived by others”—I ended up losing my own credibility
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “If you deceive others, you will be deceived by others” teaches us about the importance of trust, an invisible bond in human society.
Why do people try to deceive others? It comes from the desire to gain immediate benefits or advantages. However, this proverb has been passed down through generations because humanity has repeatedly experienced how such short-sighted actions always fail.
Humans are social creatures. We cannot live alone and exist within relationships with others. Trust forms the foundation of these relationships.
Deceiving someone cracks this foundation of trust. And once trust is lost, it does not easily return.
What’s interesting is why deceivers get deceived. It’s not mere coincidence. Dishonest people attract other dishonest people. Birds of a feather flock together.
They become mutually suspicious and eventually fall into relationships of mutual deception.
This proverb reveals the universal law of cause and effect. What you give to the world inevitably returns to you.
This is both a moral lesson and an inevitable consequence of how human society is structured. Honesty is not just a virtue—it’s also the wisest survival strategy.
When AI Hears This
Behind the simple phenomenon of being deceived when you deceive others lies a surprising mathematical structure.
In the 1980s, political scientist Robert Axelrod conducted computer tournament experiments. The most successful strategy was “tit for tat.” This simple rule cooperates first, then copies whatever the opponent did last time.
It defeated programs with far more complex strategies.
Why is this strategy so strong? Consider a classroom where students repeatedly borrow erasers from each other. For a single interaction, not lending seems advantageous.
But if you’ll interact with the same person tomorrow and the day after, the situation changes. If you don’t lend today, you won’t receive tomorrow. This “there’s a next time” factor dramatically increases the cost of betrayal.
Mathematical calculations show that when the probability of continued interaction exceeds a certain threshold, cooperation always yields higher benefits.
In other words, deceiving others is a transaction where you gain 5 points short-term but lose 50 points long-term.
This proverb assumes human relationships are repeated games, not one-time events. It accurately identifies the mathematical inevitability that betrayal produces loss.
Evolutionary biology also proves that cooperative individuals survive better. Ancient wisdom and modern science align perfectly.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us that honesty is the strongest defense. In our modern era with developed social media, reputations spread at unprecedented speeds.
A single dishonest act can become known to countless people instantly.
Therefore, deceiving others for short-term gain has become riskier than ever before. However, we don’t need to view this with fear.
Rather, we should see it as the value of living honestly increasing.
Continuing to be honest is not just morally right—it’s the wisest choice in the long run. By becoming trustworthy, you can build truly valuable human relationships.
Such relationships become the most precious treasure in life.
Instead of chasing immediate gains by deceiving others, accumulate trust with a long-term view. That path ultimately protects you and brings a rich life.
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