How to Read “Trying to eat what you don’t have is people’s habit”
Nai mono kuō ga hito no kuse
Meaning of “Trying to eat what you don’t have is people’s habit”
“Trying to eat what you don’t have is people’s habit” is a proverb that describes human psychology. It shows how people want things more strongly when they know they can’t have them.
The more we realize something is out of reach, the more we become attached to it. This proverb captures this strange quality of human nature.
People use this saying when they see someone constantly seeking things they can’t have. It also applies when you notice this pattern in yourself.
We ignore what’s right in front of us. Instead, our hearts get captured by distant things we don’t possess.
The proverb expresses this contradiction in human desire with irony or self-mockery.
This psychology hasn’t changed in modern times. People rush to buy sold-out products or feel drawn to limited editions.
These behaviors perfectly show “Trying to eat what you don’t have is people’s habit” in action. Human desire burns even stronger the moment we realize we can’t have something.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, we can make interesting observations from how the phrase is constructed.
The expression “trying to eat what you don’t have” might seem strange at first. “Kuō” means “let’s eat” and shows intention.
But here it doesn’t mean literally eating. It means “trying to obtain” or “attempting to get” in a broader sense.
Eating represents the most basic human need. The act of trying to satisfy this need has long been used as a symbol for all kinds of desires.
The part about “people’s habit” is also important. A habit is something you repeat without conscious thought.
So this proverb says seeking what you don’t have isn’t logical. It’s an instinctive quality of human nature.
Consider the Edo period when common people lived without abundant resources. People were constantly surrounded by things they didn’t have.
In that environment, someone who keenly observed human psychology put this universal truth into words.
Along with the similar expression “nai mono nedari” (asking for what you don’t have), this wisdom about the mystery of human desire has been passed down through generations.
Usage Examples
- That child never feels satisfied with what they have. Trying to eat what you don’t have is people’s habit—they always envy what others possess.
- They say trying to eat what you don’t have is people’s habit, but focusing on the happiness we already have is actually much harder.
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “Trying to eat what you don’t have is people’s habit” brilliantly captures the essence of human desire. Why do people want things more when they can’t have them?
It’s because humans are creatures who constantly find value in “what isn’t here right now.” Things right in front of us become ordinary, and we stop seeing their value.
Meanwhile, things we can’t have get beautified in our imagination. They appear more attractive than they really are.
This psychology might relate to an instinct humans acquired through evolution. The drive to keep seeking better things helped our species survive.
But this proverb offers deeper insight than just pointing out desire. It acknowledges “this is people’s habit.”
It goes beyond judging whether this is good or bad. It accepts that “this is just how humans are.”
Our ancestors knew this unavoidable quality of human nature. They didn’t blame people for it.
Instead, they passed it down as a proverb to give us chances to see ourselves objectively.
When you notice yourself chasing only what you don’t have, remember this proverb. It helps you pause and think.
That’s where the true value of this saying lies.
When AI Hears This
The human brain dedicates far more thinking energy to “one apple you can’t have” than to “ten apples you already own.”
Behavioral economics experiments show something striking. When people have enough time, they make calm judgments.
But when time becomes scarce, their cognitive ability test scores drop by an average of 13 points. People in scarcity have the same judgment level as someone who stayed up all night.
What’s interesting is how this concentration of cognitive resources creates a “tunneling effect.” Consciousness focuses only on the scarce object, and vision becomes extremely narrow.
For example, people on diets think about cake more than the work in front of them.
Brain scan images confirm this. Most of the brain gets occupied processing information about the scarce object. The capacity available for other important judgments physically decreases.
Loss aversion bias makes this even stronger. People feel “the pain of losing” more than twice as intensely as “the joy of gaining.”
Chasing what you don’t have isn’t just desire. The brain keeps sounding an alarm that “loss will be confirmed if things stay this way.”
This proverb saw through something remarkable. Hundreds of years before science proved it, people understood that human decision-making systems are abnormally vulnerable to scarcity.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people wisdom about managing their desires well. Open social media and you constantly see what others have.
Focusing only on what you don’t have might be natural in some ways.
But that’s exactly why we need to pause. Is what you “want” right now truly necessary?
Or do you just want it because you don’t have it?
This question isn’t meant to blame you. It’s meant to free you.
The habit of chasing what you don’t have is unavoidable as a human. But you can notice it.
And when you notice, you can choose. Will you follow that desire, or will you look at what you already have?
The secret to keeping peace of mind in modern society lies in this “awareness.”
Acknowledge yourself trying to eat what you don’t have. But also develop eyes that find the richness already here.
That balance is the most important lesson this proverb gives to modern people.
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