CHEESE is good that comes from a niggard (miser)

Insights

Virtue of Moderation

The proverb serves as a metaphor for the benefits of moderation in all things. The miser's stinginess, an external constraint, forces a healthy temperance upon the receiver, suggesting that sometimes limitations can be beneficial.

Unexpected Benefits

It illustrates that positive outcomes can arise from unlikely or negative sources. A miser's defining trait—stinginess—unexpectedly produces a healthy result for someone else, showing that even vices can have unintended benefits.

Value in Rarity

The proverb comments on the nature of value and desire. The rarity of a gift from a miser makes it more precious. It suggests that things that are difficult to obtain are often appreciated more than those given freely.

Historical Diet and Class

The proverb reflects historical dietary norms where cheese was a staple, but overconsumption was cautioned against. The reference to 'Plough-men' making a meal of it suggests a class distinction, contrasting the hearty eating of laborers with the forced, yet 'wholesome', moderation imposed by a miser's small portion.

Philosophical Resonance

Benjamin Franklin’s use of the proverb aligns with his well-documented advocacy for temperance and frugality. For Franklin, the miser’s small portion is 'wholesomest' because it prevents gluttony, turning a vice (stinginess) into an accidental virtue (moderation).

Psychology of Scarcity

Psychologically, the proverb highlights how scarcity increases perceived value. A small piece of cheese from a miser feels like a significant, rare gift, making it seem 'good' regardless of its actual quality, simply because it was hard-won from a reluctant giver.

Rhetorical Devices

Irony

The core of the proverb is its irony. The expected outcome of dealing with a miser is negative, but here, their characteristic flaw (stinginess) paradoxically produces a positive result (a healthy portion).

Paradox

The proverb presents a paradox where a negative quality (miserliness) leads to a positive virtue (temperance). This contradiction makes the saying memorable and thought-provoking.

Symbolism

'Cheese' symbolizes any form of pleasure or consumption, while the 'miser' represents an external limiting force. This symbolism allows the proverb to be applied broadly to any situation where restraint is beneficial.