How to Read “賄賂には誓紙を忘る”
Wairo ni wa seishi wo wasuru
Meaning of “賄賂には誓紙を忘る”
This proverb means that when one becomes accustomed to the sweet temptation of bribery, they forget the importance of promises and contracts that should originally be upheld.
Using bribes allows one to skip troublesome procedures and easily resolve difficult negotiations. However, when one continues to rely on such easy methods, they lose sight of the importance of proceeding with matters through legitimate promises and contracts. Bribery is merely a temporary solution and cannot build long-term trust relationships.
This proverb is used in situations where it warns of the dangers of relying on dishonest means. It serves as a warning to those who are misled by immediate benefits or convenience and forget the originally correct path. Even in modern times, this lesson is fully applicable to people who disregard legitimate effort and promises, trying to resolve matters through backdoor deals and dishonest means.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to have emerged from commercial transactions and relationships with officials during the Edo period. “Bribery” refers to giving money or goods to receive favors, while “sworn paper” refers to documents recording promises or contracts.
For merchants and townspeople of that time, relationships with officials were crucial elements that determined the success or failure of their business. However, once one tastes the sweet honey of bribery, people tend to forget the importance of promises and contracts that should originally be upheld.
In Edo period commercial transactions, trust was more important than anything else. Promises between merchants were taken seriously even if they were verbal agreements, and for important transactions, it was common to exchange sworn papers. However, once one learns to resolve matters through bribery, they begin to disregard legitimate procedures and promises. This must have been a serious problem in the merchant society of that time.
This proverb is presumed to have been born as a lesson warning of the dangers of bribery against such historical background. The values of Edo merchants who valued honest business and trust may be embedded in these words.
Usage Examples
- That politician exemplifies “bribery makes one forget sworn paper” – legitimate political procedures seem to be completely out of his consideration now
- He only thinks about receiving favors and has become a typical example of “bribery makes one forget sworn paper”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, this proverb has taken on new meaning. It can be understood not just as direct exchange of money and goods called bribery, but as a phenomenon of becoming dependent on various “easy shortcuts.”
For example, purchasing “likes” and followers on social media, manipulating reviews, using connections for job hunting – these acts of avoiding legitimate effort and seeking only results are widespread. These could be called modern versions of “bribery.” Once one relies on such means, they tend to forget the value of honing their true abilities and following legitimate procedures.
In the business world too, companies that pursue short-term profits while disregarding the importance of long-term trust relationships and contracts have become problematic. Compliance violations and fraudulent accounting are exactly modern manifestations of “bribery makes one forget sworn paper.”
However, in the information age, dishonest acts are more easily discovered, and recovering lost trust has become more difficult than before. The lesson of this proverb could be said to have increased in importance in modern times.
When AI Hears This
The moment someone accepts a bribe, their brain rapidly constructs a “story to justify themselves.” “This is just a token of gratitude,” “Everyone does it,” “Just this once.” Psychology calls this “cognitive dissonance resolution.” In other words, because they cannot accept themselves doing something wrong, they unconsciously fabricate reasons.
Modern “compliance fatigue” operates through the same mechanism. When there are too many rules, people begin drawing lines, thinking “it’s okay to break unimportant rules.” For example, it starts with underreporting overtime hours and eventually escalates to inflating expenses. The initial small violation creates “habituation” and numbs moral sensibilities.
What’s fascinating is that both bribery and rule violations follow a pattern of “gradual deterioration.” No one accepts large sums of money right away. It begins with small gifts, and the amounts gradually increase. Through this “boiling frog phenomenon,” the person remains unaware of their own transformation, and before they know it, they’ve even forgotten the existence of their written oath of integrity.
Whether in the Edo period or today, the human psychology of “convenient forgetting” remains unchanged.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us in modern times is “the importance of the habit of walking the righteous path.” Precisely because we live in a convenient age, you encounter various “easy choices” daily. But in such times, please stop and think.
What’s important is to continue faithfully keeping promises, starting with small ones. Meeting times with friends, work deadlines, promises to family. By not taking these lightly and carefully keeping them one by one, “the asset of trust” accumulates within you.
In modern society, you may often be required to seek short-term results. However, truly valuable human relationships and work are built upon trust that is constructed over time. While you can buy “likes” on social media, you cannot buy real trust.
Please value equally the small promises you make today and the big contracts you sign tomorrow. By continuing to walk the right path, you yourself will become a trustworthy person, and as a result, you should be able to achieve greater success and happiness.
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