Japanese proverbs

THE Japanese are known for being direct, simple and straightforward. Here are some of their proverbs, along with our insights (in parentheses):

A fog cannot be dispelled by a fan. (Seek the Supreme Being to help you with your problems.)

A merchant’s happiness hangs upon chance, wind and waves. (Business is unstable, and success is fleeting.)

A man in love mistakes a pimple for a dimple. (Acknowledge the power of illusion.)

A round egg can be made square according to how you cut it; words would be harsh according to how you speak them. (Learn the art of speaking that causes no pain.)

Too much is as bad as too little. (Moderation is a necessity.)

Lust is grief. (It begins with sweetness, and ends in bitterness.)

Happiness

Getting money is like digging with a needle, and spending it is like soaking water in sand. (There’s too much endeavor for fleeting material happiness.)

When you’re dying of thirst, it’s too late to think about digging a well. (Think of your goal in life before you reach your deathbed.)

Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. (Stop dreaming, and start working once you hear the truth.)

Cold tea and rice are tolerable; cold looks and words aren’t. (Cold treatment can be torture.)

You can only endure the weaknesses of others by knowing your own. (If you are humbled by your shortcomings, you can’t feel higher than others.)

A person who admits ignorance shows it once; someone who tries to hide it shows it often. (Be honest about your lack of knowledge, so you can easily learn.)