How to Read “Behind good is evil”
zen no ura wa aku
Meaning of “Behind good is evil”
“Behind good is evil” is a proverb that expresses a worldview where evil lurks within good, and good exists within evil.
It shows the complexity of people and situations. Behind seemingly good actions or people, there may be hidden malice or selfish desires.
On the flip side, within actions or people considered evil, there may be good intentions or justice.
This proverb warns against dividing things simply into good and evil. It teaches the danger of judging people or events based only on surface appearances.
It emphasizes the need for deeper insight. People use it when they discover the dual or multiple nature of humans.
For example, when someone you trusted as good betrays you. Or when you find unexpected kindness in someone labeled as bad.
Even in modern society, this saying remains relevant. It reminds us of the danger of judging based only on superficial information from social media.
It also highlights the profound depth of understanding human nature.
Origin and Etymology
There is no clear record of when this proverb first appeared in literature. However, we can explore its origins through its structure and Japanese philosophical background.
The expression “Behind good is evil” likely reflects the influence of Eastern thought. This philosophy views things through opposing concepts like front and back, or yin and yang.
In Chinese yin-yang philosophy, all phenomena contain and transform into their opposites. Good and evil are not absolutely separate but exist in a relationship of two sides of the same coin.
This idea also connects with the Buddhist concept of “bonno soku bodai.” This teaching says that worldly desires and enlightenment are not separate things.
The seeds of enlightenment exist within desires. Similarly, elements of evil exist within good, and elements of good exist within evil.
This view of human nature developed within Japanese spiritual culture.
During the Edo period, stories of good triumphing over evil were popular among common people. Yet at the same time, they shared wisdom about human complexity.
People understood the reality that neither perfect good people nor perfect evil people exist. This realistic understanding of human nature likely gave birth to expressions like this proverb.
Usage Examples
- When I saw the news that the philanthropist was arrested for tax evasion, I thought this is truly “Behind good is evil”
- He has a rough personality but can’t ignore people in trouble—they say “Behind good is evil,” but the reverse is also true
Universal Wisdom
The universal wisdom shown by “Behind good is evil” is a deep understanding of the essential complexity of human existence. We all possess both light and shadow.
Humans are not simple creatures. Actions that begin with good intentions can hurt someone. Things that start from selfish motives can end up saving many people.
Jealousy or vanity may lurk in the depths of someone who seems like a saint. Deep affection or a sense of justice may sleep within someone labeled a criminal.
This proverb has been passed down for so long because of a contradiction. Human society is always eager to label things as “justice” or “evil.”
Yet actual humans don’t fit into such simple frameworks. People have known this through experience.
Those in power call themselves good and condemn their enemies as evil. But looking back at history, countless atrocities have been committed in the name of good.
Our ancestors had the wisdom not to fear this complexity but to accept it. They didn’t seek perfect good people.
Instead, they understood that imperfect humans should live together, acknowledging each other’s weaknesses. This is the depth of human understanding that this proverb teaches.
The boundary between good and evil is not as clear as we think. This truth is what the proverb quietly yet surely continues to convey.
When AI Hears This
The act of helping someone with good intentions is actually a challenge against the laws of physics. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the disorder of the entire universe (entropy) always increases.
Just as a cleaned room gets messy if left alone, creating order always requires energy. Using that energy creates disorder somewhere else.
Consider the good intention of delivering food to impoverished areas. In the process of producing, transporting, and distributing food, we burn fossil fuels, emit CO2, and burden the environment.
Creating order in one place (solving hunger) increases disorder on a global scale (environmental destruction). It’s the same structure as an air conditioner cooling a room while expelling heat outside.
Even more interesting is the impact good intentions have on social systems. Policies that protect a certain industry bring order to that sector.
But they distort resource allocation in the overall market and shift burdens to other industries and consumers. As physicist Ilya Prigogine showed, creating local order always accompanies an increase in overall entropy.
In other words, evil being born behind good is not a human flaw but a basic rule of the universe. Perfect good is physically impossible.
All we can do is choose where to push the disorder.
Lessons for Today
What “Behind good is evil” teaches us living in modern times is the depth of how we see people and honesty toward ourselves.
First, when evaluating others, remember the importance of not judging based only on surface impressions. People who look perfect on social media, people who behave exemplarily at work—behind such exteriors, everyone has weaknesses and struggles.
At the same time, within people with problems or who have failed, there may be hidden good intentions or potential. Don’t dismiss people with one-sided evaluations.
An attitude of trying to understand people from multiple angles is the key to building rich human relationships.
Most importantly, this proverb gives us a chance to look at ourselves. Is your good intention truly pure?
Behind your sense of justice, might there be hidden feelings of superiority or a desire for approval? By acknowledging both the light and shadow within yourself, you can finally live with true honesty.
You don’t need to try to become a perfect good person. What matters is accepting the complexity within yourself and continuing to make slightly better choices.
It’s precisely because we are imperfect that supporting each other has meaning.
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