How to Read “Trying to take, trying to take, and getting taken”
とろうとろうでとられる
Meaning of “Trying to take, trying to take, and getting taken”
“Trying to take, trying to take, and getting taken” means that when greed gets ahead of you, you end up losing instead. It’s like rushing to win but ending up defeated.
This proverb teaches us that when we rush too much to get something or become too greedy, we end up losing what’s truly important.
When you become blinded by immediate gains and lose your composure, you show weaknesses to others or make poor judgments. This pushes you into a position where you ultimately suffer losses.
This saying applies to business situations where someone loses a client’s trust by being too eager for profit. It also fits sports scenarios where a team attacks too aggressively trying to win quickly, leaving their defense weak and suffering a comeback loss.
Investment situations also fit this pattern. Someone gets greedy trying to make money and pours in large sums, only to lose their fortune in the end.
Even in modern society, examples never stop appearing. People pursue short-term results too aggressively and damage long-term trust. They jump at immediate gains and miss bigger opportunities.
This proverb reminds us of the importance of staying calm and patient.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records remain about the origin of this proverb. However, we can make interesting observations from how the phrase is constructed.
Let’s focus on the repeated expression “trying to take, trying to take.” This repetition brilliantly expresses a state where desire controls the mind.
By repeating it twice instead of once, you can feel how impatience and attachment intensify.
The passive form “getting taken” is also important. You intended to actively “take” something, but you end up falling into a passive position instead.
The structure of this phrase itself embodies the lesson about this reversal of positions.
This proverb probably originated from business or competitive situations. Merchants in the Edo period must have witnessed many cases where people who jumped at immediate profits ended up losing.
In board games like Go and shogi, situations frequently occur where you attack hastily trying to capture opponent’s pieces, only to have your own position collapsed instead.
From these everyday experiences, people discovered the universal truth that “being too greedy backfires.” They condensed this wisdom into this concise and memorable expression.
Usage Examples
- That investor aimed for quick riches and repeated risky trades. As “trying to take, trying to take, and getting taken” warns, he lost his entire fortune.
- He rushed too much to score in front of the goal. Just like “trying to take, trying to take, and getting taken,” the opponent stole the ball and counterattacked.
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “Trying to take, trying to take, and getting taken” cuts deeply into the universal theme of human desire.
Why do people repeat the same mistakes even when they know greed leads to failure? It’s because when something attractive appears before us, our reason loses to our emotions.
Desire wells up from the instinctive part of human nature. Even when our head understands, our heart cannot control itself.
This proverb has been passed down through generations because this human weakness never changes across time. Ancient people and modern people alike repeat the same failure of making poor judgments when blinded by greed.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t simply preach abstinence. It doesn’t deny “taking” itself, but warns against the impatience and obsession of “trying to take, trying to take.”
In other words, moderate desire is necessary as a driving force in life. But when it becomes excessive and you lose composure, you actually move further from your goal.
The proverb teaches us this delicate sense of balance.
Our ancestors understood that wisdom to control desire is essential for success. This insight still offers great guidance for our lives today.
When AI Hears This
Game theory calls greedy behavior that tries to take from others a “defection strategy.” At first glance, it seems you gain by outsmarting others.
However, a famous computer experiment by political scientist Axelrod in the 1980s produced surprising results. When various strategies competed, the most successful was a simple program called “tit for tat.”
This strategy cooperates first, then defects back if the opponent defects, and returns to cooperation when the opponent cooperates again.
What’s interesting is that always-defect strategies can score points short-term, but long-term they receive retaliation from others and their scores stagnate.
In other words, the attitude of “trying to take, trying to take” makes opponents take the same attitude. The result becomes a war of attrition where nobody cooperates.
Mathematically, this is called “Nash equilibrium.” Both sides betray each other and settle into the worst outcome where both lose.
This proverb is sharp because it recognizes the reality that human relationships aren’t one-time but repeated. Someone who deceives you today loses your trust tomorrow.
In societies where reputation systems function, short-term profit-seeking creates the cost of long-term trust loss. Eventually you get excluded from networks of cooperative people and end up on the “getting taken” side.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the value of “the power to wait.”
Modern society is filled with a culture that demands instant results. We tap our smartphones and instantly get information. One click and products arrive.
In such times, we may become prone to impatience.
But truly valuable things escape when you try to grab them hastily. Trust relationships, careers, and skills all need time to develop carefully.
The important thing isn’t denying desire itself. Rather, it’s acknowledging your desires and developing the power to control them.
When you think “I want this,” pause and consider. Do you really need it now? Will you lose something by acting hastily?
When you strongly desire something, remember this proverb. Don’t rush, don’t be greedy, stay calm.
By doing so, what you desire might naturally come to you. Life is not a sprint but a long journey.
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