Meaning & Analysis
The cheapest bargain is to buy nothing at all. Someone who goes shopping but returns empty-handed has spent no money, thereby getting a 'good deal' by acquiring nothing.
Insights
The Virtue of Abstention
The proverb argues that sometimes the most advantageous course of action is inaction. By choosing not to engage or commit, one avoids potential losses, risks, and the negative consequences of a poor decision.
Critique of False Economy
Interpreted sarcastically, the proverb criticizes excessive frugality or indecisiveness. The person who is too afraid to spend or take a risk ends up with nothing, rendering their 'savings' meaningless as they have gained no value or benefit.
Risk and Reward
The proverb highlights the fundamental trade-off between risk and reward. The only certain way to avoid the risk of a bad deal is to forgo the possibility of a good one, illustrating that absolute safety comes at the cost of potential gain.
Marketplace Witticism
Originating in market banter, this proverb serves as a witty retort to hagglers, suggesting that the only way to achieve a lower price is to abstain from purchasing altogether. It frames the act of not spending as the ultimate, albeit useless, bargain.
Economic Principle
The proverb is a folk expression of the economic principle of opportunity cost. While the person who buys nothing saves money, they incur the 'cost' of the lost opportunity—the benefit or utility they would have gained from a wise purchase.
Psychology of Risk Aversion
This saying champions the avoidance of 'buyer's remorse' through complete inaction. It reflects a psychological preference for preventing a negative outcome (a bad purchase) over risking it to achieve a positive one (a good purchase), highlighting a mindset of extreme risk aversion.
Rhetorical Devices
Paradox and Irony
The proverb is built on a paradox: the act of 'buying' results in 'nothing'. This logical contradiction creates a memorable irony that underscores the folly of prioritizing cost over value.
Antithesis
The phrase contrasts the positive concept of a 'good cheap' deal with the empty result of 'bringing nothing home', effectively highlighting the tension between saving money and acquiring value.
Epigrammatic Phrasing
The proverb's compact, memorable structure allows it to convey a complex economic and psychological idea with maximum impact and brevity.
Transcription
Quotations
(who brings).
(that brings).
*Spoken to them that think our Pennyworth too dear.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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