How to Read “If you doubt a person, do not employ them; if you employ a person, do not doubt them”
Hito wo utagaite wa tsukau nakare, hito wo tsukaite wa utagau nakare
Meaning of “If you doubt a person, do not employ them; if you employ a person, do not doubt them”
This proverb teaches the mindset that leaders should have when hiring or delegating to others. If you’re going to employ someone or give them responsibility, you should trust them from the start. You shouldn’t use people while harboring doubts about them.
Once you’ve trusted someone with a task, you shouldn’t start doubting them midway through. You shouldn’t constantly monitor them or interfere with every detail of their work.
This expression warns against the harm that comes from using people while doubting them. When people feel they aren’t trusted, they can’t perform at their best. They lose motivation and confidence.
Even today, when bosses micromanage their employees or constantly interfere with tasks they’ve already delegated, good results rarely follow. This proverb teaches that trust is the most important foundation for anyone in a leadership position.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb likely comes from ancient Chinese classics. Similar ideas appear in books about leadership and governance like “Han Feizi” and “Zhenguan Zhengyao.” These teachings probably came to Japan and became established as a proverb.
In ancient China, how a ruler should employ their ministers was a critical issue that could determine a nation’s survival. If you use people while doubting them, they can’t show their true abilities. This might even lead to betrayal.
On the other hand, once you’ve trusted someone with responsibility, constantly monitoring or doubting them damages their morale. This weakens the entire organization. This wisdom about governance was condensed into a simple saying.
In Japan during the Edo period, this became widely known as a principle for samurai. It was valued in relationships between lords and retainers, or between merchant house owners and their managers. This teaching has been passed down through generations as it captures an essential truth about human relationships.
Without trust, no organization can function properly.
Usage Examples
- We appointed him as the new project leader, so we should watch over him with the spirit of “If you doubt a person, do not employ them; if you employ a person, do not doubt them”
- As the saying goes “If you doubt a person, do not employ them; if you employ a person, do not doubt them,” choosing the right people from the start is probably a manager’s most important job
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down because it contains deep insight into fundamental human needs. Everyone has a strong desire to be trusted. Nothing hurts people more or drains their energy faster than working under suspicion.
On the other hand, when people feel genuinely trusted, they demonstrate surprising power. They accomplish things that even surprise themselves.
What’s interesting is that this proverb addresses the mindset of the person in charge. Doubting others actually corrodes the doubter’s own heart. When you constantly view others with suspicion, you notice every small action. Your mind never rests.
Distrust spreads throughout the organization. Everyone starts monitoring each other. A suffocating atmosphere develops where no one feels safe.
Our ancestors understood that trust is the foundation of human society. Since no one is perfect, betrayal will sometimes happen. Even so, they chose to trust. This takes courage.
Only with this resolve can people lead others and accomplish great things together. This proverb quietly but powerfully teaches the importance of having the courage to trust without fearing risk.
When AI Hears This
In quantum mechanics, a particle’s state isn’t determined until it’s observed. For example, before observation, an electron exists in a superposition state in multiple places simultaneously. But the moment you point a measuring device at it, that state collapses into one. This is the measurement problem.
Something similar happens in human relationships. When you assign work to someone, their ability and integrity aren’t actually fixed. They might be trustworthy, or they might not be. But the moment you watch them with suspicious eyes, their state changes.
People who feel doubted lose their autonomy. They become passive, waiting for instructions. Their creativity disappears. The act of observation itself changes what’s being observed.
The uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics teaches that trying to measure position precisely disturbs momentum, and measuring momentum disturbs position. In human relationships, the more you use the measuring device of doubt, the less you can see the person’s true ability and integrity.
The more surveillance cameras you install, the more self-motivated behavior disappears.
This proverb understood 2,000 years ago a quantum paradox: the best state is preserved only by not observing.
Lessons for Today
In modern society, management tools and monitoring technology have made it possible to track people’s actions in detail. But this proverb asks us a question. Just because something is technically possible, does that make it good management?
This proverb teaches us the courage to trust people. You can’t reduce risk to zero completely. Still, you choose to trust. That decision is what makes you a true leader.
Whether with employees, colleagues, or family members, once you delegate, believe in them. This attitude draws out the potential sleeping inside others.
Of course, you should be careful when choosing people initially. But once you’ve decided to entrust them with something, avoid constantly interfering or viewing them with suspicion.
Don’t fear failure. Trust and watch over people warmly. That trust nurtures people, strengthens organizations, and expands your own capacity as a human being.
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