How to Read “When success is achieved and fame is attained, to withdraw is the way of heaven”
Kō nari na wo togete mi shirizoku wa ten no michi nari
Meaning of “When success is achieved and fame is attained, to withdraw is the way of heaven”
This proverb means that once you achieve success and gain fame, you should step down from your position rather than cling to it. This is the way of life that aligns with the natural order.
When people succeed, they naturally want to hold onto their position and power. However, this proverb teaches that you should have the courage to withdraw gracefully when you reach the top.
This is called “the way of heaven,” meaning it follows the natural law of the universe.
People use this proverb when discussing the art of knowing when to leave. It can also be used to advise someone who stays in power too long.
It serves as a reminder to stay humble even after achieving success.
We can see this spirit in modern times too. Company leaders pass the torch to the next generation at the right time.
Athletes decide to retire while still at their peak. By withdrawing when fulfilled, they leave a beautiful legacy and create opportunities for the next generation.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb comes from the ancient Chinese text “Tao Te Ching” by Laozi. Chapter 9 contains the exact phrase “When success is achieved and fame is attained, to withdraw is the way of heaven.”
This phrase became established as a Japanese proverb in its original form.
Laozi was a Chinese philosopher from around the 6th century BCE. He is considered the founder of Taoism.
At the core of his philosophy is the concept of “wu wei,” or “non-action in harmony with nature.”
This teaches the importance of avoiding artificial interference and living according to natural flow. Within this philosophy, Laozi repeatedly warned against attachment to power and fame.
He emphasized the importance of withdrawing at the appropriate time.
The phrase “when success is achieved and fame is attained, to withdraw” perfectly captures Laozi’s philosophy. It teaches that even after gaining success and fame, you should not cling to your position.
Withdrawing gracefully is the way of life that aligns with natural law.
Chinese classics have been transmitted to Japan since ancient times. During the Edo period, Taoist philosophy was widely studied alongside Confucianism.
This proverb took deep root in Japanese hearts through such cultural exchange.
The aesthetic of voluntarily stepping down from power resonated with the samurai spirit. This is why many people embraced this teaching.
Usage Examples
- The president built the company into an industry leader, then said “When success is achieved and fame is attained, to withdraw is the way of heaven” and handed management to a young successor
- He retired the year after winning an Olympic gold medal, truly embodying the spirit of “When success is achieved and fame is attained, to withdraw is the way of heaven”
Universal Wisdom
Humans have a curious nature. We work desperately hard to obtain something, but once we have it, we become afraid to let it go.
Position, fame, power—these are far harder to release than to acquire.
Why is this? Because we identify our success with ourselves. We think the title of president is who we are.
We believe the championship title defines our worth. So losing these feels like losing ourselves.
But look at nature. The full moon always wanes. High tide always becomes low tide.
Flowers scatter after full bloom. Ripe fruit falls from the tree.
This is not decline—it is nature’s cycle. Scattered flowers leave seeds behind. Fallen fruit grows new trees.
Human endeavors work the same way. When you withdraw after reaching the peak, you create opportunities for the next generation.
A new cycle begins.
This proverb has been passed down for thousands of years. This is because humans instinctively want to “hold on,” yet also understand the beauty of “leaving gracefully.”
The art of knowing when to leave is advanced wisdom unique to humans.
When AI Hears This
From a physics perspective, a person or organization at the peak is actually in an extremely unstable state. According to the law of entropy, ordered states naturally move toward disorder.
Ice melts into water, then evaporates. The more organized a structure, the more energy it needs to maintain itself.
Consider a successful organization. To maintain top position, you must constantly acquire new information, suppress competitors, and maintain internal control.
This “cost of maintaining order” increases exponentially over time.
The surrounding environment constantly changes and increases in disorder. To preserve your own order, you need to extract more and more energy from outside.
What’s interesting here is the physical meaning of voluntary withdrawal. By spontaneously moving to a high-entropy state (disordered state), you can dramatically reduce the system’s energy consumption.
This is like turning off a refrigerator.
Rather than forcing continuous cooling, returning to room temperature is more stable overall.
Ancient sages may have intuitively understood this thermodynamic truth. A lasting system is a flexible system that does not cling to low-entropy states.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people that life requires “the courage to let go.” We tend to focus only on gaining things.
But true maturity may be the ability to let go at the right time.
If you are currently a leader of something, be aware of the “moment to leave” that will inevitably come. This is not defeat—it is completion.
When you succeed in a project, pass the baton to the next person.
When you achieve results in club activities, make way for your juniors. When you produce results at work, move toward new challenges.
By doing so, you can continue growing yourself.
What matters is not seeking your value in titles or positions. Your value exists within yourself.
That’s why when you let something go, you lose nothing.
People who know the beauty of leaving gracefully earn respect from others. And most importantly, they can free themselves.
When you’re ready for the next stage, withdraw gracefully.
This is not an ending—it is a new beginning.
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