173Japanese proverb ことわざ
正直は一生の宝
しょうじきはいっしょうのたからShōjiki wa isshō no takara
“Honesty is the treasure of a lifetime.”
The meaning
A reputation for straightness builds slowly and always serves. It is capital that never devalues — and the only kind that grows when spent.
At the origin
A popular maxim of moral education.
The characters
- 正直 shōjikihonesty
- は watopic marker
- 一生
- の
- 宝
はParticleMarks the topic: what the sentence is about — “as for…”.
In practice
Tell the uncomfortable truth gently: it is a deposit into your treasure.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 200 人の一生は重荷を負うて遠き道を行くが如し A man's life is a long road walked under a burden; there is no need to hurry.
- 087 三度目の正直 The third time is the charm.
- 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.
- 184 九死に一生を得る To gain one life out of nine deaths.
- 042 鳶が鷹を生む A kite can give birth to a hawk.