expression
the more learned, the more humble; the boughs bearing the most hang lowest
Proverb comparing a rice ear bending as it ripens to a wise person becoming humble with knowledge. Often cited alongside the similar saying 実るほど頭の下がる稲穂かな.
See also: 実るほど頭の下がる稲穂かな
「実るほど頭を垂れる稲穂かな」ということわざがあるように、本当に優れた人は謙虚だ。
As the proverb goes, 'The boughs bearing the most hang lowest'; truly great people are humble.
A variant with 頭の下がる instead of 頭を垂れる; same meaning but less common.
A Japanese proverb of uncertain origin, drawing on the agricultural image of rice plants bowing under the weight of ripe grain to illustrate humility in wisdom.