“See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” refers to a proverb and pictorial maxim that encourages people to ignore and avoid acknowledging bad behavior or wrongdoing. It suggests that by refusing to recognize or engage with evil, one can maintain peace and virtue.
Tone Advisory, cautionary
Where it comes from
The phrase originates from a depiction of the Three Wise Monkeys, a visual motif that is derived from a 17th-century carving over a door of the famous Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, Japan. The monkeys’ names are Mizaru (see no evil), Kikazaru (hear no evil), and Iwazaru (speak no evil).
Examples
- In a corrupt workplace, employees often ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ to avoid conflicts.
- Despite knowing about the issues, they chose the ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ approach.
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