How to Read “Not speaking is better than speaking”
Iwanu wa iu ni masaru
Meaning of “Not speaking is better than speaking”
“Not speaking is better than speaking” means that saying nothing often brings better results than making careless remarks.
This teaching is especially wise when you’re unsure about something, when your words might hurt someone, or when speaking won’t benefit you.
People use this proverb when someone is about to say something unnecessary. It also applies when someone regrets speaking and thinks, “I should have kept quiet.”
In meetings or discussions, staying silent can be smarter than sharing an immature opinion.
Modern society offers many chances to share opinions, especially on social media. We can express ourselves easily now.
But this convenience has led to more failures from careless words. This proverb teaches us to pause and think before speaking.
Its wisdom remains important today.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb is unclear. However, it has been passed down as traditional Japanese wisdom for living well.
The structure compares two opposite actions: “not speaking” and “speaking.” It uses “masaru” (to surpass) to show which is better.
Japanese culture has long valued silence. The saying “silence is golden” reflects this ancient belief.
Speaking less was considered a virtue. This came from farming communities that valued group harmony.
It also connects to Zen philosophy. Zen teaches “furyumonji,” meaning words cannot fully express truth.
This proverb also grew from human experience. People learned from their mistakes in relationships.
Losing trust over one careless word is a timeless experience. Regretting thoughtless remarks happens in every era.
These lessons accumulated over time. They became wisdom: sometimes it’s better not to speak.
This expression contrasts the weight of words with the power of silence. It contains deep insight about communication.
Usage Examples
- I’m glad I didn’t say anything unnecessary at that meeting. Not speaking is better than speaking.
- He held back his criticism. He knows that not speaking is better than speaking.
Universal Wisdom
Humans naturally want to express their thoughts and feelings. We want to assert what we believe is right.
We want to show our knowledge. We want to point out others’ mistakes. These impulses arise in everyone’s heart.
But “Not speaking is better than speaking” stops that impulse. It makes us pause.
Why has this proverb been passed down for hundreds of years? Because humanity has learned through experience about the dual nature of words.
Words can encourage people, connect them, and deepen understanding. But words can also hurt people, destroy relationships, and cause irreversible damage.
Once words leave your mouth, you can never take them back.
We constantly face this dilemma in our relationships. Should I speak or stay silent?
A wrong choice leads to lost trust, isolation, and regret. Through repeated failures, our ancestors discovered a truth.
Silence is also a choice. Sometimes it’s the best choice.
This proverb doesn’t teach passivity. Instead, it teaches wisdom.
It means understanding the weight of words, predicting the results of speaking, and making good judgments. This requires self-control and insight.
It’s a sign of advanced human character.
When AI Hears This
In information theory, higher uncertainty in a message means greater potential information content.
For example, “tomorrow will be sunny or rainy” contains more information than “tomorrow will be sunny.” This is called Shannon entropy.
When you say nothing, multiple interpretations exist simultaneously in the other person’s mind. “Are they angry?” “Are they thinking?” “Do they agree?”
These possibilities overlap, creating a high-entropy state. This seems ambiguous, but it actually gives the other person choices.
In other words, they can choose the interpretation that suits them best or makes the most sense to them.
When you speak clearly, information becomes fixed and entropy decreases. If you say “Your idea is useless,” there’s no room for interpretation.
But this also takes away the other person’s freedom of thought. It locks the relationship into one direction.
Interestingly, silence makes the other person’s brain actively generate information. The sender reduces information, which activates the receiver’s information processing.
Looking at communication as a whole, not speaking can paradoxically increase total information.
Lessons for Today
Today, anyone can easily share opinions through social media and messaging apps.
But this makes the “courage not to speak” taught by this proverb more important than ever.
When you want to say something, pause for a moment. Is that statement really necessary?
Will it help the other person? Or are you just venting your emotions? This question can save you from much regret.
People tend to speak impulsively when feeling angry or frustrated. But if you remember this proverb in that moment, you can protect important relationships.
You rarely regret what you didn’t say. But you often regret what you did say.
Of course, having courage to speak when needed is also important. This proverb doesn’t teach “say nothing.”
Rather, it gives you wisdom to understand the weight of words and choose truly valuable statements.
People who have the power to choose silence are the ones who can speak truly meaningful words.
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