How to Read “First luck, second talent, third learning”
Ichibiki nisai sangakumon
Meaning of “First luck, second talent, third learning”
This proverb ranks the important elements for success in life. It says luck comes first, talent second, and learning third.
In other words, no matter how hard you study, you can’t surpass natural talent or good fortune. This represents a harsh reality about life.
People use this saying when explaining situations where effort alone isn’t enough. It’s also used when discussing the importance of luck or acknowledging differences in talent.
You might hear someone say, “That person is lucky, just like First luck, second talent, third learning says.”
Today, we often emphasize hard work above all else. But this proverb acknowledges elements you can’t control, like luck and talent.
This doesn’t deny the value of effort. Instead, it teaches humility by accepting that life includes uncertain elements.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb in written records is unclear. However, it likely spread among common people during the Edo period as life wisdom.
The expression “First luck, second talent, third learning” ranks success factors. It reflects what people genuinely felt about life back then.
“Hiki” means good fortune or lucky timing. During the Edo period, Japan had a strict class system.
No matter how hard people worked, some barriers couldn’t be crossed. People witnessed daily how the family you were born into or chance encounters could dramatically change your life.
“Sai” refers to inborn talent or natural qualities. Business sense, artistic ability, and other natural gifts were highly valued. “Gakumon” means learning acquired through effort.
What’s interesting is that learning, which you can gain through effort, ranks third. This doesn’t mean people looked down on education.
Rather, it shows their realistic understanding of life. No matter how much you studied, without luck and talent, you often wouldn’t be rewarded.
This order contains both resignation about things beyond human control and wisdom for living anyway.
Usage Examples
- He succeeded through First luck, second talent, third learning—his timing was perfect
- Effort matters, but as First luck, second talent, third learning says, you need luck on your side too
Universal Wisdom
Behind “First luck, second talent, third learning” lies a fundamental question humans have always asked. That question is: “Does effort always pay off?”
Deep down, we want to believe in a fair world. We want to think that effort brings rewards, that living right brings happiness.
But reality isn’t that simple. Even when people work equally hard, results vary greatly. Your birth environment, the people you meet, your circumstances—factors beyond your control greatly influence your life.
This proverb offers wisdom for accepting such unfair realities. Acknowledging luck and talent, things you can’t control, might seem like giving up.
But actually, this leads to deep self-understanding and compassion for others.
People who credit all their success to effort tend to blame unsuccessful people for not trying hard enough.
On the other hand, people who recognize luck and talent’s role can be humble. They acknowledge luck played a part in their success and show understanding for others’ difficulties.
Perhaps our ancestors used this wisdom to maintain peace of mind despite unfair realities. They tried to build a society where people supported each other.
When AI Hears This
What’s fascinating about this proverb is how it presents three elements not as simple addition but as a ranked hierarchy.
From an evolutionary biology perspective, this represents the cascade structure of gene expression itself.
Genes remain dormant without environmental switches. For example, genes related to height won’t express without nutrition as an environmental factor.
The “first luck” in this proverb determines the range of genetic potential. “Second talent” shows the conditions where that potential actually expresses. Talent is a phenomenon that appears only when genes meet environment.
The positioning of “third learning” deserves special attention. Modern research shows that brain changes from learning affect the next generation through gene methylation.
Experiments show that offspring of mice raised in stressful environments display anxious behavior more easily, despite having the same genes.
Learning comes last not because it’s the weakest element. Rather, it’s because learning has the power to change phenotypes beyond genetic constraints.
This proverb views the three elements not as fixed hierarchy but as a mutually influencing system.
Genetics creates conditions for talent expression, expressed talent changes learning efficiency, and learning rewrites gene expression patterns themselves. This dynamic cycle is the core of life’s adaptation strategy.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches you wisdom for distinguishing between what you can control and what you can’t in life.
We live in a society that emphasizes effort above all. Surrounded by messages saying “hard work always pays off,” we tend to blame ourselves for not trying hard enough when things go wrong.
But this proverb speaks gently to you. It says you can acknowledge that luck and talent—things beyond your control—exist.
This isn’t encouraging you to give up. Rather, it teaches you to avoid wasting energy and focus on what truly matters.
Instead of worrying about things you can’t control, do your best within your range. When results don’t go as planned, understand that doesn’t necessarily reflect your worth.
At the same time, compassion for others grows. You can acknowledge someone’s good fortune rather than envying their success.
You can understand the unlucky aspects of someone’s failure rather than blaming them. Such mental space makes you feel lighter and enriches your relationships with others.
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