How to Read “The closer to the north, the farther from the south”
Kita ni chikakereba minami ni tōi
Meaning of “The closer to the north, the farther from the south”
“The closer to the north, the farther from the south” is a proverb that expresses how difficult it is to have two things at once.
When you choose one thing, you naturally have to give up the other.
This proverb is used to explain situations where you cannot get two desirable things at the same time in life.
It applies to choices like work versus family, freedom versus stability, or ideals versus reality.
These are situations where both options are important, but you cannot pursue them simultaneously.
The proverb uses a geographical fact to convey a deeper truth. The more you move toward the north, the farther you get from the south.
This shows that every choice comes with a cost.
It uses the concept of direction, which everyone can understand, to show why you cannot have everything you want.
In modern society, we face many choices and often want to have everything.
However, this proverb teaches us the essence of choice.
Choosing something always means not choosing something else at the same time.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb in written records is unclear.
However, based on its structure, it has likely been used since ancient times as a metaphorical expression using geographical directions.
The proverb uses north and south, which are opposite directions, to visually express the difficulty of having two things at once.
On Earth, the more you walk toward the north, the farther you naturally get from the south.
This geographical fact, which everyone can understand, is applied to life choices and questions of priority.
Japan has long had many expressions using directions.
North, south, east, and west are not just directions.
They have also been used symbolically to represent opposing concepts or conflicting positions.
This proverb was likely born within this Japanese linguistic culture.
Interestingly, this proverb uses “north-south” rather than “east-west.”
This might simply be for the sound of the words.
However, the vertical axis of north and south may create a stronger sense of distance and separation.
Despite its simple combination of words, it brilliantly expresses a fundamental dilemma in life choices.
This is why it has been passed down through generations.
Usage Examples
- I changed jobs to do the work I wanted, but the closer to the north, the farther from the south—my income decreased
- I prioritized time with my children and missed a promotion opportunity, but the closer to the north, the farther from the south, so it cannot be helped
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “The closer to the north, the farther from the south” captures the essence of the most fundamental problem humans face: choice.
Humans constantly desire and pursue things.
But at the same time, we are beings with limited time and energy.
This limitation is the root cause of what makes life both rich and difficult.
If we had infinite time and ability, we could have everything.
But in reality, when we choose one path, other paths close.
This proverb has been passed down through generations because humans have always faced this dilemma.
Young people struggle between dreams and reality.
Adults waver between work and family.
Older people look back on past choices.
In every era and every culture, people have faced situations where satisfying one side means disappointing the other.
Our ancestors did not teach us to lament this unavoidable reality.
Rather, they taught us the importance of accepting it.
If you decide to go north, you do not need to fear moving away from the south.
Choice is naturally like this—this is the deep life wisdom contained here.
When AI Hears This
When you move 100 kilometers north on Earth, you always move 100 kilometers away from the south.
This seems obvious, but mathematically it is an extremely special property.
On a spherical space, the sum of distances to two opposite points is always constant.
In other words, we live in a “space where the total amount of distance is conserved.”
This constraint also applies to life choices.
For example, the more time you pour into work, the farther you get from family time.
This is because the “total amount of distance”—24 hours in a day—does not change.
Moving closer to the north pole of career is mathematically equivalent to moving away from the south pole of private life.
What is even more interesting is that this constraint holds in multidimensional space too.
In a space with multiple “poles” like friendships, hobbies, health, and learning, moving closer to one means moving slightly away from all the others.
If you expand your relationships, the depth with each person becomes thinner.
If you deepen your expertise, you move away from broad knowledge.
There is only one way to escape this geometric constraint: expand the space itself.
In other words, make your use of time more efficient or integrate multiple goals to live on a larger sphere.
Perhaps the proverb shows not the fate of choice, but the importance of space design.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the courage to make choices.
Modern society overflows with information, and it seems like there are infinite options.
When you open social media, you see people living fulfilling lives.
This creates the illusion that you too can have everything.
However, the truth that the closer to the north, the farther from the south remains unchanged, now and always.
What matters is understanding that choosing something means letting go of something else.
On top of that understanding, you need the ability to discern what is truly important to you.
Rather than trying to have everything and ending up halfway, choosing one direction and moving forward often leads to a richer life.
If you are struggling with a choice right now, remember this proverb.
If you choose north, you do not need to fear moving away from the south.
That is not failure—it is the natural result of choice.
Have the courage to believe in the path you have chosen and move forward.
That is the most important message this proverb gives to those of us living in modern times.
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