expression, suru verb (precursor)
a wise man changes his mind, a fool never; the wise adapt to changed circumstances
Original classical meaning from the I Ching: a superior person corrects mistakes quickly. Used as a proverb to praise flexibility and self-improvement.
See also: 君子豹変 (くんしひょうへん)
「君子は豹変す」という言葉は、過ちをすぐに改めることの大切さを教えている。
The saying 'a wise man changes his mind, a fool never' teaches the importance of quickly correcting one's mistakes.
expression, suru verb (precursor)
the wise make no scruple in suddenly changing their demeanor
Modern colloquial reinterpretation, often used to describe someone who abruptly changes attitude or behavior, sometimes with a negative or sarcastic tone. The original positive nuance is often lost.
彼は昨日まで反対していたのに、今日は急に賛成し始めた。まさに君子は豹変すだね。
He was against it until yesterday, but today he suddenly started supporting it. Talk about changing your tune.
A shorter, four-character compound form of the same proverb, often used as a noun or in formal contexts.
From the Chinese classic I Ching (易経). The original meaning is that a superior person (君子) quickly corrects their mistakes, like a leopard's spots becoming more distinct after molting. The modern colloquial sense is a semantic shift.