How to Read “Flattery is also a way to get through life”
Tsuishō mo yowatari
Meaning of “Flattery is also a way to get through life”
“Flattery is also a way to get through life” means that following others and adjusting to them is one method for navigating the world successfully.
This proverb recognizes the reality that ideals and principles alone cannot help you survive in society. It teaches the importance of flexibly adapting to others when necessary.
Insisting on your own opinion is not always the right choice. Choosing to follow others depending on the situation is also a wise life strategy.
This saying is used when advising stubborn people to be more flexible. It also helps when showing realistic solutions to those struggling with the gap between ideals and reality.
Sometimes people use it to justify their own compromising behavior.
Today, this proverb expresses the importance of cooperation and adaptability. It is understood as wisdom for living smoothly within organizations.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of “Flattery is also a way to get through life” is not clearly documented. However, we can make interesting observations from how the words are constructed.
The word “tsuijū” originally meant following behind others. Over time, it came to mean “adjusting to others” or “flattering.”
This word contains a sense of flexibility—suppressing your own opinion to match others.
“Yowatari” literally means crossing through the world. It refers to the skills needed to live in society.
This term was widely used during the Edo period in merchant culture to describe life strategies.
This proverb likely emerged as common wisdom during the Edo period. The social class system was strict, and hierarchies were clear.
Sometimes bending your own opinion to follow others became a way to protect yourself. It helped people maintain stable lives.
This proverb expresses the wisdom of surviving shrewdly in a real society where ideals alone are not enough. It condenses the practical life philosophy of our ancestors.
Usage Examples
- I want to oppose my boss’s opinion, but I decided to follow it, accepting that flattery is also a way to get through life
- He has understood since his youth that flattery is also a way to get through life, and he navigates organizations skillfully
Universal Wisdom
“Flattery is also a way to get through life” has been passed down through generations. This reflects deep insight into the essential structure of human society.
Everyone wants to cherish their own beliefs and opinions. But at the same time, we are social beings who cannot live alone.
People have always struggled between these two desires. Should you stick to yourself, or should you adapt to others?
Our ancestors gave an extremely practical answer to this eternal dilemma.
This proverb shows flexibility as a human survival strategy. Even in the animal world, strength alone is not the condition for survival.
Those who can adapt to their environment survive. The same is true in human society.
Sometimes bending yourself can benefit you in the long run.
What’s interesting is that this proverb says “also a way” rather than “the only way.” The particle “mo” implies this is not the sole method but one option.
It’s not saying to always follow others. It teaches the wisdom of choosing based on the situation.
This subtle nuance reveals a deep understanding of human nature.
When AI Hears This
When you analyze flattering behavior mathematically, surprising facts emerge. Game theory experiments mix “always aggressive and confrontational types” with “situation-reading and flattering types” in groups.
The result? The latter type survives more often in the end.
Why? When constantly confrontational individuals clash, both suffer major damage. Meanwhile, flattering individuals avoid conflicts.
Even though they gain only small benefits, they survive reliably. When expressed as a formula, the flattering strategy has a higher expected value in environments where conflict costs are high.
Even more interesting is that problems arise when too many flattering individuals exist. When everyone becomes flattering, a few aggressive individuals start monopolizing large benefits.
Then the group balance collapses, and confrontational types increase again. In other words, the most stable state is when flattery and confrontation coexist in a certain ratio.
This is called an evolutionarily stable strategy.
This proverb shows that flattery is not mere weakness. It’s a calculated strategy for long-term survival within groups.
Behavior that seems passive morally is actually one of the mathematically optimal solutions. The continued existence of a certain number of flattering people in human society is not coincidence but necessity.
Lessons for Today
“Flattery is also a way to get through life” teaches us living in modern times the importance of flexibility and strategic thinking.
Modern society is a complex world where people with diverse values coexist. Social media has enabled everyone to express their opinions.
However, conflict and division have also become serious. That’s why the wisdom of this proverb shines in our era.
What’s important is understanding that flattery is not weakness. Being able to assess situations and sometimes step back is actually the strength of a mature adult.
If you try to push your opinion in every situation, relationships become exhausting. Ultimately, achieving your own goals becomes more distant.
However, this proverb does not recommend blind obedience. As the word “also” indicates, this is one option.
Take a firm stance on values you cannot compromise. Be flexible in other areas.
This sense of balance is what makes someone skilled at navigating the modern world.
In your life, what will you protect and what will you compromise? Having the wisdom to make that judgment is the key to a fulfilling life.
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