Don’t Scold Children, It’s The Path You Came From; Don’t Laugh At The Elderly, It’s The Path You’re Going To: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Don’t scold children, it’s the path you came from; don’t laugh at the elderly, it’s the path you’re going to”

Kodomo shikaru na kita michi ja, rōjin warau na iku michi ja

Meaning of “Don’t scold children, it’s the path you came from; don’t laugh at the elderly, it’s the path you’re going to”

This proverb teaches us not to scold children for their immaturity or laugh at elderly people for their decline.

The reason is simple. Children represent the path we ourselves once walked. Elderly people represent the path we will surely walk in the future.

People use this saying when someone gets frustrated with a child’s mistakes or childishness. It’s also used when someone mocks an elderly person’s slow movements or forgetfulness.

The proverb encourages compassion and understanding. Sometimes people use it as a reminder to themselves.

We need this expression because humans tend to forget their own experiences when judging others. Adults forget the helplessness of childhood. Young people can’t imagine the reality of aging.

This proverb reminds us of life’s continuity. It awakens empathy and respect in our hearts.

Even in modern society, it remains valuable for deepening understanding between generations.

Origin and Etymology

The exact origin of this proverb is unclear. However, it has been passed down among common people since the Edo period.

The saying likely reflects a view of life influenced by Buddhist thought.

The structure of the words is beautifully balanced. The first half and second half form a perfect pair.

“The path you came from” and “the path you’re going to” create a metaphor. They compare life to a single road.

Children are walking the path we already traveled. Elderly people are walking ahead on the path we will surely take.

This paired structure connects to traditional Japanese teaching songs and moral verses. The format makes it easy to remember and spread by word of mouth.

Using negative commands like “don’t scold” and “don’t laugh” creates a strong impression. It warns against actions people unconsciously tend to do.

Some say this proverb reflects the concept of reincarnation. It also shows an Eastern view of time as cyclical.

The wisdom here promotes equality. All humans walk the same path. It encourages humility by reminding us we once were that way and will become that way.

Interesting Facts

Some say this proverb has a continuation. In certain regions, people add a humorous twist: “Don’t listen to what old people say, it’s the path you’re going to.”

This addition playfully deflects elderly people’s lectures. It represents folk wisdom that contrasts with the original teaching.

The expressions “the path you came from” and “the path you’re going to” reflect Japanese culture’s tradition of comparing life to a journey.

Since the Heian period, the idea that “life is a journey” has appeared in poetry and stories. This proverb belongs to that same tradition.

Usage Examples

• I was getting irritated at my grandchild’s spilled food. Then my mother said, “Don’t scold children, it’s the path you came from; don’t laugh at the elderly, it’s the path you’re going to.” That really struck me.
• I’m ashamed I laughed at my father’s increasing forgetfulness. Now I’m reflecting deeply on the words “Don’t scold children, it’s the path you came from; don’t laugh at the elderly, it’s the path you’re going to.”

Universal Wisdom

This proverb warns against a fundamental human tendency. We judge others based on our current selves.

We forget surprisingly easily how we once were and how we will become.

Human memory and imagination have limits. Adults forget the helplessness of childhood. Young, healthy people feel that aging is a distant reality.

This cognitive bias creates generational gaps and intolerance.

Yet this proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years. This proves that people have recognized this bias and tried to overcome it.

The ability to imagine our past and future is special. The capacity to empathize with others’ positions is uniquely human.

Our ancestors left these words to awaken that ability.

Thinking more deeply, this proverb contains the seeds of democratic thought. It says all humans are equal.

The recognition that everyone walks the same life path, regardless of age or position, was revolutionary. This was especially true in an era of strict social hierarchies.

These words teach compassion for those in weaker positions. They contain profound insight into human dignity.

When AI Hears This

In physics, most laws work even if you reverse time. If you play a video of throwing a ball backwards, it doesn’t violate physical laws.

But the second law of thermodynamics is an exception. Milk dropped in coffee won’t naturally separate. A broken cup won’t reassemble itself.

This is the law of increasing entropy, the “arrow of time.”

What’s interesting about this proverb is that human development has the same one-way direction. Children inevitably become adults. Adults inevitably age.

This flow is biologically determined and irreversible. Scolding children means denying the low-entropy state you already passed through.

In other words, it’s like blaming water for flowing from high to low.

The speed of transition to the high-entropy state of aging is also noteworthy. The human body has about 37 trillion cells.

DNA replication errors accumulate with each cell division. At the cellular level, the “disorder” is vastly different between age 20 and age 80.

Laughing at elderly people is contradictory. You’re rejecting the thermal equilibrium state you’ll eventually reach—the state of maximum entropy.

This proverb is a rare example. It expresses the fundamental universal law of time’s irreversibility as wisdom for human relationships.

Lessons for Today

This proverb teaches you the importance of pausing before criticizing. When someone’s behavior irritates you, imagine yourself in their position.

Ask yourself, “What would I do in the same situation?”

Consider children’s mistakes, young people’s immaturity, and elderly people’s slowness. Overlay your own past and future onto each situation.

This teaching becomes even more important in modern society. On social media, people easily criticize others.

Remember that the person on the other side of the screen is human like you. They have a past and a future just like you do.

No one is perfect. Everyone is in the middle of growing. Everyone is aging.

This perspective makes your own life easier too. You can accept your current imperfections without excessive self-blame.

You can see this as just one point along life’s path. Anxiety about the future becomes lighter when you realize everyone walks this road.

Tolerance is a gift not only to others but also to yourself.