JLPT N1Proverbs
敗軍の将は兵を語らず
- Meaning
- 失敗した者は弁解せず多くを語らないものだ
- Explanation
- A general who has lost a battle is not qualified to talk at length about strategy or military matters; by extension, it means that one who has failed should refrain from making excuses and remain humble. Unlike c3, which says one should explain the causes of defeat in detail, the key point is the attitude of gracefully keeping silent.
Original Japanese explanation
戦に敗れた将軍は、兵法や軍事についてあれこれ語る資格がない、転じて失敗した者は弁解せず慎むべきだという意味。敗因を細かく弁明すべきとする c3 とは逆で、潔く口を慎む態度を示す点が要点です。
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