191Japanese proverb ことわざ
窮すれば通ず
きゅうすればつうずKyū sureba tsūzu
“At the dead end, a way opens.”
The meaning
It is often at the very end of the dead end that the way out appears: necessity sharpens the mind and reveals paths that comfort concealed.
At the origin
A maxim from the Book of Changes, adopted in Japan.
The characters
In practice
Stuck? Write the constraint down in black and white: it often contains the exit.
Editorial note
Classical Chinese origin (Book of Changes).
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 294 智に働けば角が立つ。情に棹させば流される。意地を通せば窮屈だ。 Act on reason, and you grow sharp-cornered. Pole along feeling, and you are swept away. Force your will, and you are cramped. Decidedly, the human world is hard to live in.
- 164 雀の子そこのけそこのけお馬が通る Little sparrows, make way, make way! The horse is passing.
- 189 一念岩をも通す A resolute will pierces even rock.
- 265 無理が通れば道理引っ込む When abuse passes, reason withdraws.
- 002 七転び八起き Fall seven times, rise eight.