How to Read “A nation that entrusts everything to one person labors hard and faces many disasters”
Hitori makasuru no kuni wa rōshite ka ōshi
Meaning of “A nation that entrusts everything to one person labors hard and faces many disasters”
This proverb teaches that when one person carries all responsibility and authority, the result is exhaustion and many troubles. When running a country or organization, a leader who makes every decision alone may seem strong at first.
But in reality, one person has limits. Their judgment will eventually fail. The more they try to control everything, the more mistakes they make.
People use this proverb to warn against dictatorial management styles. It emphasizes the importance of delegating authority. When you see a leader who doesn’t trust their team and insists on deciding everything alone, this saying serves as a warning.
Today, this lesson applies to business management and team leadership. The wisdom here is clear: distribute authority properly and use everyone’s abilities. That’s how you build a sustainable and healthy organization.
Origin and Etymology
The exact source of this proverb remains uncertain. Scholars point to possible influences from ancient Chinese political philosophy, particularly from Legalist and Confucian theories of governance. However, no definitive textual record has been identified.
Let’s examine the structure of the phrase. “Hitori ninzuru” means to take on all responsibility alone. The word “nation” suggests this isn’t about individual problems. It’s a lesson about running organizations and communities.
“Rōshite” means to become exhausted. “Ka ōshi” means many disasters. Together, they paint a clear picture of what happens when power concentrates in one person.
In ancient China, debates raged about governance styles. Should the emperor hold absolute power? Or should wise ministers share authority? This proverb likely emerged from those discussions.
The warning is straightforward: when one ruler tries to decide everything, mistakes multiply and the nation suffers.
After reaching Japan, this saying became a lesson for samurai society. During the Warring States period, successful lords knew how to use their retainers effectively. Leaders who tried to do everything alone made fatal errors and fell.
Usage Examples
- The president insists on making every decision himself. Just like “a nation that entrusts everything to one person labors hard and faces many disasters,” the company is starting to fail.
- He’s trying to handle everything alone, but as the saying goes, “a nation that entrusts everything to one person labors hard and faces many disasters.” He’ll hit his limit eventually.
Universal Wisdom
Humans have a tendency to believe only they are right. When you gain responsibility, the feeling of “I must do this myself” grows stronger. Trusting others becomes difficult. This proverb has survived centuries because it understands this human nature.
People in power fall into a predictable trap. They overestimate their own judgment and underestimate others’ abilities. It starts with good intentions: “I must work hard for everyone.” But that goodness gradually turns into self-righteousness.
Before you know it, you can’t hear the voices around you. You become isolated.
Notice that this proverb uses “nation” as its example. When an individual fails, only that person suffers. But when a leader makes autocratic decisions, many people get hurt. That’s why our ancestors preserved this lesson so strongly.
No person can be perfect alone. That’s not weakness. It’s the fundamental nature of being human. We accomplish great things only by complementing and supporting each other.
This proverb teaches the wisdom of cooperation, both sternly and warmly.
When AI Hears This
From an information theory perspective, an organization where one person decides everything reveals a surprisingly fragile structure.
Claude Shannon, founder of information theory, proved that “redundancy” is crucial in communication systems. For example, the message “meet at 8 tomorrow” can be understood even if written as “me*t at 8 tom*rrow.” This works because information contains extra elements.
Conversely, in a code where every character carries unique meaning, losing even one character destroys the entire message.
Autocratic organizations exist in exactly this “zero redundancy” state. When decisions flow through one person, the information processing path is completely centralized. Network theory calls this a “single point of failure.” If that one point malfunctions, the entire system stops.
Even more serious is the lack of error detection. In organizations with multiple people, someone might catch another person’s mistake. This is error correction through parallel processing.
But in a structure where one person decides everything, no mechanism exists to correct that person’s biases or oversights. Mistakes get executed as decisions with extremely high probability.
Redundancy may look wasteful, but it’s actually a mathematical necessity that protects systems.
Lessons for Today
In modern society, everyone faces situations requiring leadership. At work projects, community activities, or within your family, you’ll have opportunities to lead. This proverb offers valuable guidance for those moments.
Are you trying to control everything in pursuit of perfection? That might show responsibility, but you may also be limiting others’ potential. Trusting and delegating to people isn’t abandoning responsibility.
It’s actually a strategy for achieving greater results.
Start by distinguishing what you truly must do from what others can handle. Then find the courage to delegate. You might feel anxious at first. But people grow when trusted.
When you let go, those around you might begin to shine.
This proverb teaches that strength isn’t carrying everything alone. It’s having the courage to trust your companions. Why not lighten the load on your shoulders a little?
You’ll likely discover a new perspective.
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