The Power of Words | Yukichi Fukuzawa: Put What You Have Learned into Practice — Before Saving Another Useful Tip

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You save a useful article, bookmark a clear tutorial, and add another video to your favorites. Your folder of things to revisit is looking impressive. But when someone asks what you learned yesterday, you suddenly have much less to say. Does that sound familiar?

Gathering information can be enjoyable. Yet if you never use what you collect, a little distance remains between feeling informed and being able to do something.

Words that can sound demanding

進まざる者は必ず退き、退かざる者は必ず進む。

Those who do not advance will surely fall back; those who do not fall back will surely advance.

Yukichi Fukuzawa, An Encouragement of Learning. English rendering for this article; Japanese wording follows the reference below.

If you do not move forward, you fall behind. At first, these words can sound as though there is no time to rest. The reference article introduces them as an observation that things in the world cannot remain unchanged, neither advancing nor retreating.

But when bringing this thought into everyday life, we need not turn it into a slogan against rest. Rather than using it to push ourselves harder when exhausted, we can read it as a prompt for a day when we have some energy: How might I use what I already know?

Count uses, not bookmarks

If you read a guide to clearer emails, try putting your conclusion first in the next message. If you learn a spreadsheet operation, test it in a small practice file. There is no need to experiment on important data straight away.

If it does not work, you discover where your understanding stops. Instead of watching the entire tutorial repeatedly, you can ask, “I got stuck at this step.” One attempt turns information you had been browsing into a specific question of your own.

Of course, not every book you enjoy or photograph you look at needs to become useful. Pleasure can remain pleasure. Here, we are talking about information you collect because you want to learn a skill.

Before looking for something new today

Open one thing you have saved and ask where you could try it today. If there is no immediate occasion, a little practice may be enough. If you realize it is not something you need right now, you can leave it for later without forcing yourself.

You do not have to submit daily proof of a major transformation. Something that once ended at “I read it” can become “I tried it once.” Other people may not notice the difference, but you will.

Before deciding what to learn next, use something you already know. One item sleeping in your bookmarks might finally get a chance to help in your everyday life. (*^^*)

Have particular words helped you when you put them into practice? Share them through our community submission page (Japanese-language page).

Read in Japanese

日本語版を読む

Source and translation note

Yukichi Fukuzawa, An Encouragement of Learning (Gakumon no Susume). Reference for the Japanese quotation and its explanation: Toshin’s Yukichi Fukuzawa quotation article (Japanese). The English rendering is our own, not a quotation from a published English translation. Applying the words to using saved information is this article’s interpretation, not a literal translation of the original passage.

A little inspiration for everyday living

In my Rakuten ROOM, I share everyday items we might put off buying for ourselves but would be happy to receive as gifts. Browse when you need something. (*^^*) You do not need new tools before trying what you have learned. Starting with what you already have is enough.

Shopping from outside Japan? Check Rakuten Global Express for current services, supported destinations, fees and restrictions before purchasing.

Editorial checklist — remove before publication

• English counterpart to Japanese draft 358. Review quotation, translation and source. Add reciprocal English link to the Japanese draft after saving.
• Featured image, tags and mood-based internal links remain unset.
• Check links and mobile layout; remove this checklist before publication. Scenes are illustrative, not claims about the owner’s experiences.
• Draft only. No publication or scheduling without approval.