Some sayings are simple enough to be understood in a few seconds, yet profound enough to stay with us for years. One such Japanese proverb is: “If the fish is kind to the water, the water is kind to the fish.”
At first glance, the proverb appears to describe the relationship between a fish and its natural environment. But beneath the surface lies a timeless lesson about friendship, relationships, mutual respect, and the way people influence one another.
