How to Read “Catch the fish and forget the trap”
Uo wo ete ue wo wasuru
Meaning of “Catch the fish and forget the trap”
This proverb warns against human selfishness. It criticizes people who forget those who helped them once they achieve their goals.
Just as a fish trap becomes unnecessary once you catch the fish, successful people sometimes forget their benefactors and supporters. They discard the very tools and people that made their success possible.
This saying applies when someone shows ingratitude after succeeding. It especially fits situations where people received help during hard times but ignore their helpers once things improve.
The proverb reminds us of an important truth. Success never comes from individual effort alone. It always involves the support and contributions of others.
In modern society, people use this phrase to criticize those who dismiss former benefactors after career advancement or business success. It serves as a reminder to maintain gratitude throughout life.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb likely comes from the ancient Chinese text “Zhuangzi.” Specifically, it appears in the chapter called “External Things.”
The original passage reads: “The trap exists for the fish. Once you get the fish, forget the trap.” The trap, called “ue” in Japanese, is a fishing device woven from bamboo or willow.
You submerge it in rivers or ponds. Fish swim inside through the wide entrance but cannot escape due to the narrow interior structure.
Zhuangzi originally used this phrase philosophically. He meant that once you grasp truth, you need not cling to the words that conveyed it.
The trap is a tool for catching fish. Once you have the fish, the trap’s purpose is fulfilled. Similarly, words are tools for reaching truth. Once you understand truth, you need not obsess over the words themselves.
However, as the saying traveled to Japan, its meaning shifted. It transformed into a warning against ingratitude and forgetting those who helped you succeed.
People began using it to criticize the selfishness of forgetting helpers and methods once goals are achieved. The philosophical teaching evolved into a practical lesson about human relationships.
Interesting Facts
The fishing trap has been used in Japan since ancient times. It features a cone-shaped structure woven from bamboo or willow branches.
The entrance is wide while the interior narrows. Fish that enter cannot find their way out. Some regions still preserve this traditional fishing method today.
People now recognize it as an environmentally friendly fishing tool. Its sustainable design has gained renewed appreciation in modern times.
In Zhuangzi’s original text, another example appears alongside the fish trap. He mentions a snare and a rabbit using the same metaphorical structure.
Once you catch the rabbit, you forget the snare. By using multiple examples, Zhuangzi emphasized his philosophical message more strongly. He wanted readers to understand that means should not be confused with ends.
Usage Examples
- After his promotion, he abandoned the colleagues who supported him during tough times. This is truly “Catch the fish and forget the trap.”
- That company canceled contracts with partners who helped them start up once they became successful. This is exactly what “Catch the fish and forget the trap” describes.
Universal Wisdom
This proverb endures because it sharply identifies a fundamental human tendency toward forgetfulness. When we suffer, we seek help and feel gratitude.
But when circumstances improve, memories of hardship fade. The presence of those who helped us grows distant. This may not be intentional ingratitude but rather a natural quality of human memory and emotion.
The moment we achieve a goal, our consciousness shifts to the next target. While celebrating success and adapting to new environments, the past naturally loses its color.
Just as the trap becomes unnecessary after catching the fish, helpers unconsciously get classified as “no longer needed.” Our minds move forward, leaving behind what brought us here.
Yet our ancestors understood that this human trait destroys relationships and damages social trust. That is why they used the clear metaphor of fish and trap to warn us.
Success never comes from individual effort alone. When we forget this truth, we become isolated. When we face the next difficulty, no one will help us.
This proverb quietly but certainly teaches us the price of forgetting gratitude. It reminds us that the tools and people who helped us deserve continued recognition and appreciation.
When AI Hears This
Brain scans of skilled carpenters reveal a surprising phenomenon. While using a hammer, their brains process it not as an external tool but as part of their own hand.
The tool’s existence disappears from conscious awareness. Cognitive science calls this “instrumental transparency.” The tool becomes invisible to the mind that masters it.
The core insight is profound. The process of mastery is actually a process of forgetting. Beginners constantly think about the hammer’s weight and grip.
Experts never think about the hammer. They see only the nail. Brain resources shift from tool operation to the true purpose: driving the nail.
Neuroscience research confirms this. Brain regions that recognize tools show reduced activity during expert performance. Meanwhile, areas governing body schema incorporate the tool into their processing.
Even more fascinating is this truth: without this forgetting, true mastery cannot be reached. A calligrapher who constantly worries about brush grip will never become a master.
The moment you forget the tool, you finally master it completely. This proverb articulated this paradoxical truth 2,500 years ago. Ancient wisdom captured what modern science only recently confirmed.
When tools become transparent, people become one with their purpose. This is not mere habituation but a fundamental transformation involving structural brain changes. The boundary between self and tool dissolves entirely.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us to practice gratitude consciously. Humans naturally forget kindness if left to their own devices. We are built this way.
Therefore, we must intentionally create time to reflect on the past. We need to remember those who helped us. This requires deliberate effort and regular practice.
Modern society moves fast. Success comes quickly, and new goals constantly appear. Stopping to express gratitude may seem inefficient in this environment.
However, taking the long view reveals a different truth. People who maintain gratitude build trust around them. When difficulties arise, helpers gather to support them again.
Practical steps include regularly contacting benefactors, reporting your successes to them, and verbalizing thanks even for small things. Make these habits part of your life.
This benefits not only others but enriches your own character. It opens the path to sustainable success built on genuine relationships.
“Catch the fish and forget the trap” warns us of a common mistake. True success means catching the fish while still treasuring the trap. That attitude marks genuine achievement.
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