Proverb / Kotowaza
兵強ければ則ち滅ぶ
Great power and military might can ironically lead to destruction through overconfidence.
If the army is strong, it will perish.
Quick Answer
Great power and military might can ironically lead to destruction through overconfidence.
- Literal Image
- If the army is strong, it will perish.
- Closest Equivalent
- Pride goes before a fall.
- How to Use It
- Used to caution a powerful person or organization against arrogance, or to explain why a once-mighty entity failed due to its own over-reliance on force.
Meaning
When a nation or organization becomes too powerful, it may become arrogant and over-reliant on its strength, which eventually invites its downfall. This proverb serves as a philosophical warning that rigid strength is brittle and prone to collapse compared to flexibility and humility.
Literal Image
If the army is strong, it will perish.
Equivalent Proverbs
Pride goes before a fall.
Focuses on the arrogance leading to failure.
The mightiest empires fall the hardest.
Matches the scale of military or organizational power.
How to Use It
Used to caution a powerful person or organization against arrogance, or to explain why a once-mighty entity failed due to its own over-reliance on force.
Tone
Cautionary and moralizing.
Examples
歴史を振り返れば兵強ければ則ち滅ぶの例には事欠かない。軍事大国が驕りによって崩壊した事例は数多い。
Looking back at history, there is no shortage of examples where 'if the army is strong, it will perish.' There are many instances of military powers collapsing due to pride.
競合に勝つために規模を拡大し続けた会社が過剰投資で倒産した。兵強ければ則ち滅ぶの現代版だ。
A company that kept expanding its scale to beat competitors ended up bankrupt due to overinvestment. It is a modern version of 'if the army is strong, it will perish.'
独裁者は強大な軍事力を誇ったが、兵強ければ則ち滅ぶというように、最終的には民衆の反発で打倒された。
The dictator boasted of powerful military might, but just as they say 'if the army is strong, it will perish,' he was eventually overthrown by the people's revolt.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The use of the classical conditional 'kereba' followed by 'sunawachi' (then) makes the grammar structure more complex than standard modern Japanese.
兵
へい / hei
military force; army
強ければ
つよければ / tsuyokereba
if (one is) strong
則ち
すなわち / sunawachi
then; consequently
滅ぶ
ほろぶ / horobu
to perish; to be destroyed
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a heavy, philosophical expression best suited for formal writing or serious discussions about history and leadership.
Misread Risk
Learners might think this applies only to soldiers, but it can be used to describe businesses or any organization that relies too much on its own size and power.
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Origin
This proverb originates from Chapter 76 of the Chinese classic Laozi (Tao Te Ching). It is based on the philosophical concept that 'the powerful and strong are of the domain of death, while the soft and weak are of the domain of life.' This paradox suggests that being rigid and strong leads to destruction, whereas being flexible and yielding allows one to survive and thrive. This concept has been reinforced by historical examples of powerful empires collapsing due to their own arrogance and over-reliance on military force.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.