015Japanese quotation 名言
初心忘るべからず
しょしんわするべからずShoshin wasuru bekarazu
“Never forget the beginner's spirit.”
The meaning
The freshness of beginnings — attention, humility, eagerness — is precious. Routine and confidence erase it unless you watch over it.
At the origin
A precept of Zeami, the 15th-century master of Noh theatre, from his treatises on the actor's art.
The characters
In practice
In a familiar task, perform the gesture once as if it were the first time.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 300 初心の花を忘るべからず Do not forget the flower of your beginnings.
- 170 喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる Once past the throat, the burn is forgotten.
- 290 やまとうたは、人の心を種として、万の言の葉とぞなれりける Japanese poetry has the human heart as its seed, from which grow myriad leaves of words.
- 017 井の中の蛙大海を知らず The frog at the bottom of the well knows nothing of the great ocean.
- 088 聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥 To ask is a moment's shame; not to ask is a lifetime's shame.