How to Read “失敗は成功のもと”
Shippai wa seikou no moto
Meaning of “失敗は成功のもと”
“Failure is foundation of success” means that experiences and encounters with failure become valuable materials and foundations that lead to future success.
Rather than viewing failure itself negatively, this represents the way of thinking that the lessons and insights gained from it become important elements that support success in the next challenge. This proverb is mainly used in situations to encourage people who are feeling down after failure, or to give a push to those who are afraid of failure before taking on new challenges.
It’s not simply a consoling phrase saying “it’s okay to fail,” but rather shows that failure has positive value. Through failure, problems become clear and areas for improvement become visible. And because of that experience, one can avoid repeating the same mistakes and become able to produce better results. Even today, it continues to be cherished as words that support people who challenge themselves in various fields such as research and development, entrepreneurship, and sports.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “Failure is foundation of success,” clear documentary evidence has not actually been found. However, this way of thinking itself can be said to be rooted in ancient Eastern philosophy.
The Chinese classic “I Ching” contains the philosophy of “learning from failure,” and in Japan, the concept of “rising up from stumbling” has existed since the Heian period. The current expression “Failure is foundation of success” likely became established from the late Edo period to the Meiji era.
This was a time when Western technology and ideas were flowing in, and Japan was undergoing rapid modernization. For the people of that time who needed to take on new challenges while repeating many trials and errors, this proverb that views failure positively must have expressed the very spirit of the age.
Among merchants too, along with the phrase “fall down seven times, get up eight,” it seems to have been cherished as words expressing the mindset of challenging without fearing failure. It’s presumed that from the Meiji period onward, this proverb came to be frequently used in educational settings when teaching children the courage to face difficulties.
Usage Examples
- This project didn’t go as planned, but failure is foundation of success, so let’s apply it to the next one
- My son’s entrance exam was unsuccessful, but they say failure is foundation of success, and this experience should make him stronger
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Failure is foundation of success” has taken on new meaning, particularly in the fields of business and technology. Silicon Valley’s concept of “Fail Fast” and startup companies’ concept of “pivot” can be said to be modern versions of this proverb.
In the IT industry, rather than trying to create perfect products from the start, “agile development” has become mainstream – releasing products with minimal functionality early and making improvements while observing user reactions. This is a method that doesn’t fear failure but connects small accumulated failures to great success.
On the other hand, there’s also an aspect where tolerance for failure has decreased in modern society. In an age where information spreads instantly through social media, a single failure can cause significant damage. Therefore, there’s also a tendency for many people to try to avoid failure and hesitate to take on challenges.
However, artificial intelligence machine learning is actually a system that improves accuracy by learning from countless “failures.” Perhaps now more than ever, we need to rerecognize the value of learning from failure and have the courage to challenge without fearing failure.
When AI Hears This
The moment we fail, something remarkable happens in our brain. Our brain constantly predicts “what will happen next,” but failure dramatically betrays those predictions. When this “prediction error” occurs, dopamine neurons show the opposite reaction to their usual response. While success triggers massive dopamine release, failure causes a temporary halt in secretion, and this sudden shift becomes a powerful learning signal that “something went wrong.”
What’s particularly fascinating is that the larger this prediction error, the stronger the memory consolidation in the hippocampus becomes. Failed experiences stick in our memory about three times more than successful ones, and since the amygdala, which governs emotions, activates simultaneously, deep learning occurs at a “muscle memory” level rather than just information processing.
Furthermore, in the prefrontal cortex, failure temporarily “resets” existing decision-making circuits and switches into a mode that searches for new strategies. This is an adaptive mechanism the brain acquired through evolution, evidence that it uses failure as a “learning optimization device” to survive in changing environments. In other words, failure isn’t a random byproduct—it’s a growth system the brain intentionally designed.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of having the courage to be freed from perfectionism. Precisely because we live in an age where we only see others’ successes on social media, we want to cherish the attitude of learning from failure rather than hiding it.
When you’re trying to take on something new and can’t take that first step because you fear failure, remember these words. Failure is neither shameful nor something to be avoided. It’s one step on the staircase to success.
In modern society, the power called “resilience” – the ability to recover from failure – is gaining attention. By developing the habit of thinking about what can be learned from failure rather than giving up after one failure, your life will become richer and more fulfilling.
Why not start something new today without fearing small failures? That step will surely become an important experience that supports tomorrow’s you. Failure is foundation of success. With these words in your heart, let’s move forward positively.
Comments