Uchikura & Co., LLC

Bad Deeds Travel Far — 悪事千里を走る

 

悪事千里を走る (akuji senri o hashiru) literally means “Bad deeds travel a thousand ri,” an old unit of distance.

 

Although widely used in Japan, this saying originated in China. It comes from the Chinese collection 北夢瑣言, which contains the expression “Good deeds do not leave the gate; bad deeds travel a thousand li.” It describes how wrongdoing and a bad reputation spread quickly.

 

Today, with social media, they can travel around the world in minutes.

 

In business, we may spend decades earning people’s trust. One dishonest decision can damage that trust far faster than we built it.

 

Sometimes people ask, “Will anyone find out?” But the better question is, “Is this the right thing to do?”

 

Being discovered is not what makes a dishonest act wrong. The harm begins when we choose to deceive someone.

 

For me, this saying is a reminder to keep promises, admit mistakes, and treat people fairly.

 

We cannot control everything people say about us. We can control whether our actions give them a reason to lose trust.