179Japanese proverb ことわざ
過ちて改めざる、是を過ちという
あやまちてあらためざる、これをあやまちというAyamachite aratamezaru, kore o ayamachi to iu
“The real fault is not to mend one's fault.”
Word for wordTo err and not amend — that is called erring.
The meaning
Error is human and forgivable; it is persistence in error that becomes a fault. Correcting erases — persisting engraves.
At the origin
A saying from the Analects of Confucius, adopted by common Japanese morality.
The characters
In practice
Is an acknowledged mistake lingering uncorrected? Correct it today.
Editorial note
Classical Chinese origin (Analects of Confucius).