A proverb meaning that kindness shown to others will ultimately benefit oneself; being compassionate to others will come back to you.
困っているときに助けてくれた人のことを忘れず、情けは人の為ならずと思って行動した。
I didn't forget the person who helped me when I was in trouble and acted with the thought that kindness to others will come back to me.
このことわざは人に親切にすることの大切さを教えてくれる。
This proverb teaches the importance of being kind to others.
被災地でのボランティア活動は、情けは人の為ならずという考えに通じる部分がある。
Volunteer work in disaster areas relates to the idea that kindness to others will return to you.
An incorrect or misleading usage that interprets the proverb as meaning 'helping others does not help them' or 'you can't save others.' This negative reading is not the original meaning and is considered a misinterpretation.
『情けは人の為ならず』を『人を助けても無駄だ』と解釈するのは誤りだと先生が説明した。
The teacher explained that interpreting '情けは人の為ならず' as 'helping people is useless' is wrong.
最近はことわざの意味が逆に使われる例もあり、混乱を招いている。
Recently there have been examples of proverbs being used with reversed meanings, causing confusion.