How to Read “There are orders from one’s lord that cannot be accepted”
Kunmei ni ukezaru tokoro ari
Meaning of “There are orders from one’s lord that cannot be accepted”
This proverb means that even if an order comes from your lord or superior, you don’t have to follow it if it goes against what is right.
At first glance, this seems to contradict values like loyalty and obedience. But actually, it’s a deep saying that asks what true loyalty really means.
Real loyalty isn’t blindly following orders. It’s making judgments based on what is right and sometimes offering advice against bad decisions.
In modern society, we often face situations where we question our boss’s instructions. This proverb teaches us not to follow authority without thinking.
Instead, we should value our own conscience and moral judgment. Of course, this is different from being selfish or rebellious.
The key is making decisions based on universal principles of what is right, not personal preferences.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb likely comes from a passage in the ancient Chinese text “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. It says “A general need not accept all orders from his lord.”
“The Art of War” was written around 500 BCE. It’s a military strategy book that discusses how generals should make decisions on the battlefield.
In the original text, it means that a general on the battlefield may sometimes not follow orders from a distant ruler. This is because the situation changes moment by moment in battle.
The ruler far away cannot understand the reality on the ground. In such times, the general should make the best decision based on his own judgment.
This was practical wisdom for warfare.
This saying came to Japan long ago and became important in samurai teachings. However, in Japan it took on a deeper meaning beyond just freedom to make field decisions.
It came to be understood as an ethical standard. If an order goes against what is right, you don’t have to follow it.
Japanese samurai culture was influenced by Confucianism. It valued absolute loyalty but also emphasized righteousness. This proverb showed the balance between these two values.
Samurai passed down this saying through generations as a guide for navigating this balance.
Usage Examples
- We should have the courage to refuse unethical company orders, remembering that there are orders from one’s lord that cannot be accepted
- Even with a boss’s command, as the saying goes there are orders from one’s lord that cannot be accepted, we cannot do things that violate ethics
Universal Wisdom
Human society has always had two forces: authority and individual conscience. This proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years because it perfectly captures this eternal tension.
For people living in organizations and groups, following orders from above is a basic principle. But at the same time, humans have an inner voice called conscience.
When these two clash, what should a person do? This question has been a fundamental human dilemma from ancient times to today.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t simply encourage rebellion. It comes with a condition: “when it goes against what is right.”
In other words, the standard isn’t personal likes or dislikes or self-interest. It’s universal rightness. This shows the depth of human wisdom.
Looking back at history, blind obedience to authority has caused countless tragedies. On the other hand, chaotic rebellion also brings confusion.
This proverb shows the difficult balance between these two extremes. Respecting authority while ultimately following your own conscience.
Making judgments within this tension might be what it means to live as a human being.
When AI Hears This
The time it takes for information to travel from headquarters to the field is called “latency.” Imagine headquarters takes one hour to understand the battlefield situation and issue orders.
But during that hour, enemy positions change, weather shifts, and friendly forces fluctuate. By the time headquarters’ order arrives, that information is already “old.”
In information theory, the value of information decays exponentially over time. On a battlefield, information about enemy positions from 10 minutes ago is already useless with over 50 percent probability.
Only the field commander has real-time information. Soldier fatigue levels, subtle terrain features, changes in the enemy general’s expression—this high-resolution data never reaches headquarters.
The same problem occurs with modern internet systems. If you send all data to a distant cloud server for decisions, self-driving cars cannot avoid accidents.
That’s why edge computing developed, where the car itself makes decisions. Calculations show that every 100 milliseconds of decision delay increases accident rates by about 7 percent.
Ancient generals understood this critical point instinctively, without formulas. They embodied a universal law: the optimal balance between centralization and field judgment depends on information transmission speed.
Lessons for Today
Modern society emphasizes both organizational loyalty and cooperation, while also stressing the importance of compliance and whistleblowing. This proverb shows us how to balance both.
What matters isn’t rebelling, but having the ability to judge correctly. When you question your boss’s instructions, don’t react emotionally.
Instead, calmly ask yourself, “Does this align with what is right?” Develop this habit of reflection.
This proverb also offers important lessons for leaders. It teaches the importance of creating an environment where subordinates can speak up.
Leaders should constantly reflect on whether their own judgments align with what is right.
When you live within an organization, don’t become a blind follower or an irresponsible rebel. Value your own conscience while also fulfilling your responsibilities as a member of the organization.
Taking this difficult balance is what it means to live as a mature adult.
This proverb should give you the courage and wisdom to do exactly that.
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