How to Read “善は急げ”
Zen wa isoge
Meaning of “善は急げ”
“Good hurry” means that good things and right things should be executed immediately when you think of them.
Good deeds tend to lose their motivational strength over time, or various obstacles and excuses arise that ultimately prevent them from being carried out. Therefore, it teaches the importance of cherishing the pure feelings at the moment you think of doing something good and immediately taking action without hesitation.
The situations where this proverb is used include all morally correct acts such as helping others, contributing to society, filial piety, and caring for friends. It also applies to learning and efforts that lead to one’s own growth and improvement. In modern times, it is also understood as a mindset for practicing social good deeds such as participating in volunteer activities, supporting people in need, and environmental protection activities.
Origin and Etymology
There are multiple theories about the origin of “Good hurry,” but the most credible is that it derives from Chinese classics. This phrase is thought to have originated from the Confucian teaching that “one should not hesitate to perform good deeds.”
Similar expressions can be found in Japan from around the Heian period, and texts explaining the importance of promptly performing good deeds remain in Buddhist tale collections from the Kamakura period. Particularly in Buddhist teachings, there was the idea that when you think of doing good deeds, if there is doubt or hesitation, worldly desires and evil thoughts will creep in and prevent you from carrying them out.
During the Edo period, this proverb became widely used among common people. It frequently appeared in moral instruction books and ethical texts of the time, becoming established as everyday teaching for merchants and craftsmen. In bushido as well, it was highly valued because it aligned with the spirit that what is judged to be right should be immediately put into action.
This proverb is said to have taken its current form around the mid-Edo period and has since been passed down as one of the behavioral norms of the Japanese people.
Usage Examples
- When you see an elderly person carrying heavy luggage, you should call out to them with “Good hurry”
- I heard that a friend was feeling down, so I decided to visit them with “Good hurry”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Good hurry” has taken on new meanings. With the spread of social media, information about social problems and people in need spreads instantly, and the importance of this proverb could be said to have actually increased.
In the information society, the timing of taking benevolent action has become extremely important. In disaster relief activities and emergency responses, swift action leads to saving many people. Crowdfunding and online donations can also produce greater effects by acting quickly while problems are receiving attention.
On the other hand, challenges unique to modern times have also emerged. There are many cases where acting with good intentions without confirming the truth of information results in spreading misinformation or providing incorrect support. There is also the phenomenon called “slacktivism,” where people are satisfied with just “liking” or sharing on social media without taking actual action.
The development of technology has also lowered the barriers to good deeds in some ways. You can donate with just a smartphone, and information about volunteer activities is easily accessible. However, this may be precisely why the original spirit of “taking action as soon as you think of it” has become more important. Modern “Good hurry” has become a teaching that should be practiced in combination with information literacy.
When AI Hears This
The “hurry” in “good deeds should be done quickly” contains two dimensions: superficial time compression and deeper psychological immediacy. Modern people tend to fall into the trap of understanding this phrase as a theory about the speed of action—”do good things quickly”—but the essence lies rather in internal decisiveness: “eliminate hesitation toward good.”
According to psychological research, human moral judgments are formed within the first 3 seconds, and subsequent thinking is often spent on justification. In other words, “hurry” means to cherish this initial intuitive impulse toward good and not let it be clouded by after-the-fact excuses or hesitation.
In today’s social media culture, instantaneous good deeds through “likes” and “shares” tend to be emphasized, but this is an interpretation biased toward temporal speed. True “hurrying” means not diluting the pure impulse of “I want to help” felt the moment you encounter a donation opportunity with calculations like “Is this really a trustworthy organization?” or “Are there tax deductions?”
What we need in the digital age is not external reaction speed, but the decisiveness to cut through internal doubt. Trust your first instinct toward good and act before things become complicated. This is the contemporary value of “good deeds should be done quickly.”
Lessons for Today
“Good hurry” teaches modern people the preciousness of pure feelings. The moment when you want to help someone or do something good, your heart is very beautiful and valuable. Please cherish those feelings and take action without hesitation.
In modern society, information overflows and there are too many choices, which can actually make it harder to take action. But if you wait for perfect plans or preparation, even your good intentions will fade. It’s fine to start with small things. Call out to someone in trouble, return lost items, express gratitude to your family. Let’s practice starting with such familiar good deeds.
What’s important is not forgetting the original intention when you thought of doing something good. Your heart at that moment surely has the power to warm the people around you and make society a better place. If you have time to hesitate, you might be able to create that many more smiles instead. Your good intentions will surely reach someone’s heart.
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