How to Read “巧遅は拙速に如かず”
Kouchi wa sessoku ni shikazu
Meaning of “巧遅は拙速に如かず”
“Skillful slowness does not equal clumsy speed” means that something that takes too much time, even if it has high technical skill or quality, cannot match something that can be done quickly, even if it’s somewhat inferior in technique.
This proverb teaches the value of executing things quickly at a reasonable standard, rather than missing opportunities by pursuing perfection too much. In business situations, it’s often used when expressing the importance of bringing new products to market at the right timing so as not to be overtaken by competitors in product development or project execution.
In daily life, it’s also used as advice for people who tend to delay action by being too perfectionist. For example, the idea that it’s better to finish a presentation on time with content that covers the key points, rather than getting too caught up in details during preparation and missing the deadline. However, this doesn’t advocate cutting corners, but rather teaches the importance of appropriate judgment and execution skills according to the situation.
Origin and Etymology
“Skillful slowness does not equal clumsy speed” is said to originate from the ancient Chinese classic “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu was a military strategist from around the 6th century BC during China’s Spring and Autumn period, and his work “The Art of War” continues to be read as a textbook for military and business strategy even today.
In this proverb, “skillful slowness” means “skillful but slow,” and “clumsy speed” means “clumsy but fast.” Sun Tzu taught the importance of acting quickly, even if somewhat rough, rather than spending too much time devising perfect strategies in warfare. Since missing the right moment could be fatal on the battlefield, this teaching was very practical.
It’s believed to have been introduced to Japan along with Chinese classics from the Nara to Heian periods. During the samurai era, this teaching was also valued among warrior families and became established as a basic principle of tactics. In the Edo period, it spread among merchants as a principle for not missing business opportunities, and has been passed down to the present day.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t simply mean “hurry up,” but contains deep strategic thinking about “acting at the appropriate timing.”
Usage Examples
- We were pursuing perfection too much in the new product planning meeting, and following “Skillful slowness does not equal clumsy speed,” we ended up being overtaken by competitors
- With the report deadline approaching, if you keep worrying about minor details, it will become a case of “Skillful slowness does not equal clumsy speed”
Modern Interpretation
In today’s digital society, the teaching of “Skillful slowness does not equal clumsy speed” has become even more important. In the IT industry, a method called “agile development” has become mainstream, which can be said to be the modern version of this proverb. Rather than creating a perfect product all at once, it’s a method of quickly releasing a product with minimal functionality and making improvements while observing user reactions.
Similar trends can be seen in content creation for social media and YouTube. The reality is that posting videos of reasonable quality daily is more likely to gain followers than posting one perfect video per month. This is because algorithms favor frequent updates.
On the other hand, in modern times, we need to be careful about interpreting “clumsy speed.” Unlike in the past, the speed of information dissemination has dramatically increased, so criticism of poor products or services spreads quickly. Modern “clumsy speed” can be said to have evolved to mean “acting quickly while maintaining necessary and sufficient quality,” rather than sacrificing quality.
The concept of “MVP (Minimum Viable Product)” in startup companies is also a modern practical example of this proverb. It’s a strategy of quickly validating market needs, discovering failures early, and making course corrections to ultimately achieve better results.
When AI Hears This
The phenomenon occurring in the AI development world perfectly demonstrates the “paradox of perfectionism.” When ChatGPT was released in November 2022, it was clearly imperfect. It would confidently provide false information and make calculation errors. However, it gained 1 million users in just 5 days and reached 100 million users within 2 months.
Meanwhile, Google’s Bard was being developed cautiously, but seeing ChatGPT’s success, they hastily decided to release it. A factual error in their demo video led to a $100 billion drop in stock price. Even so, the choice to “release” rather than “not release” ultimately secured a better position in the market.
What’s fascinating is that users prioritized “being able to experience it” over “perfection.” While pointing out ChatGPT’s mistakes, many people continued using it. In other words, the value of having an 80-point product available immediately exceeded the value of having a 100-point product available a year later.
This phenomenon can be explained by an economic theory called the “network effect.” Products that enter the market first increase in value as their user base grows, making it difficult for later products to catch up. The AI development race has entered an era where victory is determined not just by technical capability, but by “the courage of timing.”
Lessons for Today
What “Skillful slowness does not equal clumsy speed” teaches modern people is the importance of having the courage to escape the trap of perfectionism. We often tend to procrastinate, saying “after I prepare a little more” or “after I study a little more,” but while we’re doing that, opportunities might slip away.
What’s important is taking action with “the best you can do now.” If you’re considering changing jobs, don’t wait until you have a perfect resume—try applying within your current capabilities. If you want to start a new hobby, don’t wait until you have all the equipment—start with what you have on hand. Such small steps can sometimes lead to unexpected developments.
However, this proverb certainly doesn’t advocate cutting corners. “Clumsy speed” means doing your best within limited conditions. In modern society, the pace of change is becoming increasingly fast. In such an era, the judgment to act at the appropriate timing and the courage to move forward even when imperfect may be what enriches our lives.
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