Meaning & Analysis
A cat wants to eat fish but is unwilling to get its paws wet to catch them, illustrating a desire for a reward without a willingness to undergo the necessary discomfort to obtain it.
Insights
Desire versus Inaction
The proverb illustrates the conflict between ambition and inaction. It criticizes those who desire a valuable outcome (the fish) but are unwilling to undertake the necessary, often unpleasant, actions or sacrifices (wetting their feet) to achieve their goals.
Cowardice and Risk Aversion
It serves as a metaphor for cowardice or excessive risk aversion. The 'wet feet' symbolize the minimal risk or effort required for a great reward, and the cat's hesitation highlights a paralyzing fear of discomfort that prevents success.
Unwillingness to Sacrifice
The proverb points to a form of hypocrisy or inconsistency, where one's stated desires are not matched by their actions. It critiques the person who wants all the benefits of a situation without accepting any of the associated costs or responsibilities.
Literary Resonance
The proverb's most famous literary application is in Shakespeare's *Macbeth*, where Lady Macbeth taunts her husband's wavering ambition. She compares him to the cat, who desires the 'fish' (the crown) but fears the 'wet feet' (the act of murder), powerfully linking the adage to themes of cowardice and the psychological conflict between desire and transgression.
Animal Symbolism
Grounded in the common observation of a cat's simultaneous love for fish and aversion to water, the proverb uses animal behavior to critique a universal human failing. This naturalistic metaphor makes the abstract conflict between ambition and inaction immediately intuitive and memorable.
Psychological Conflict
The proverb captures the psychological tension between desire and the aversion to discomfort or risk. It highlights a cognitive dissonance where an individual wants the rewards of an outcome but is unwilling to pay the necessary price, leading to paralysis and inaction.
Social Commentary on Labor
Historical annotations from the 17th century note its use in describing those who 'would gladly have, but will not labour'. This context reveals its social function as a critique of idleness and the failure to contribute effort, especially in master-servant or employer-employee dynamics.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb is built on a sharp contrast between the desire ('would eat fish') and the refusal to act ('will not wet her feet'), creating a powerful antithesis that highlights the central conflict.
Symbolism
The 'fish' serves as a symbol for any desired goal, prize, or ambition, while 'wetting feet' symbolizes the necessary work, risk, or discomfort required to achieve it.
Anthropomorphism
By attributing complex human desires and hesitations to a cat, the proverb uses anthropomorphism to make its moral point more accessible and memorable.
Transcription
Quotations
The Cat doth love the fishe, but she will not wett her foote.
The cat wold fyshe eate, but she wyl not her fete weat.
(and would not wet her feete).
The Cat loueth fish, but she loueth not to wet her foote.
(The Cat would licke milke, but).
(but is loath to touche the water).
The cat loueth fish, but he is loth to wet his foote.
(A cat loues fishe well, but).
Ye breid of the cat sho wald fain fish eat but hes not will hir feet to weet.
(but for wetting her feete).
[As in 1562 Hey.].
[As in 1562 Hey.].
(The Cat would faine haue water, but).
The Cat loueth well fish, but she is loth her feete to wet.
Faine fish would the Cat eate, but her Feet would not wete.
So said in Absence of Maisters having vnruly Servants.
And if the Cat will haue fish, she must wet her foote.
The cat loves fish well, but's loath to wet her foot to catch them.
(but she would not).
Ye breed of the cat, ye would fain have fish, but ye have na will to wet your feet.
The cat loves fish, but she's loath to wet her feet.
The Cat would fain Fish eat, But she has no Will to wet her Feet.
Spoken to them that would gladly have, but will not labour.
Fain would the Cat Fish eat, But she's loth her Feet to wet.
Shakespeare Citations
Letting 'I dare not' wait up-on 'I would,' Like the poor cat i' th' adage?
Cross References
- See DÜR., I, no. 871.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.