Tag Archives: Analects

Clowns to the left of me; jokers to the right

過ぎたるは猶及ばざるが如し (Sugitaru wa nao oyobazaru ga gotoshi; “Too much is the same as not enough.”) Definition: Overdoing something is ultimately the same as not doing it enough. For most human endeavors there is a happy medium range, and going beyond … Continue reading

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Extrapolator extraordinaire

Sherlock Holmes again! 一を聞いて十を知る (Ichi wo kiite juu wo shiru; “Hearing one; knowing ten”) Definition: Having great powers of reasoning and understanding. Learning one part and understanding the whole. Hearing just a little bit about something is enough for the … Continue reading

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On achieving clarity

Here’s our fortieth kotowaza: 四十にして惑わず (Shijuu ni shite madowazu; “At forty, no doubts”) Definition: This extremely optimistic saying asserts that by the time you reach forty years old, your ability to reason is well-developed, your studies have given you a … Continue reading

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