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Is it used in the positive sense "you should do good things for others! good
things will happen to you as well" or rather, negative "good things are rooted
in selfish motivations", or something else?
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2015-04-07T19:23:11.400
23655
2015-04-08T00:24:22.933
9771
question
expressions
How is 情けは人の為ならず used?
> 「[情]{なさ}けは[人]{ひと}の[為]{ため}ならず」

If I remember correctly what I learned in high school, there is a huge
discrepancy between what this proverb originally meant and what many people
today **think** it means.

**_Original meaning_** : The first of the two interpretations you listed. "Do
good things for others and good things will eventually happen to you."

**_Common misinterpretation_** : "Show (too much) mercy and it will not bring
good results to that person in the end." In other words, "Be on the strict
side to others if you want them to succeed in the long run."

Your second interpretation "Good things are rooted in selfish motivations."
appears to be your own.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-08T00:24:22.933
23666
2015-04-08T00:24:22.933
23655
answer