Meaning & Analysis
A cook who does not find their own food delicious enough to lick off their fingers is a poor cook, implying a lack of skill or confidence in their own creations.
Insights
The Perquisites of Power
The proverb asserts that anyone with control over resources will, and should, take a small share for themselves. It frames this as a natural perquisite of the position, suggesting that to not do so is a sign of foolishness.
Cynical View of Human Nature
It serves as a cynical observation on human nature, implying that people in positions of trust (cooks, treasurers, managers) will inevitably use their authority for personal advantage.
Pride in One's Labor
On another level, it suggests that one should have enough pride and confidence in their own work to enjoy its fruits. A craftsman who doesn't believe in their own product is an 'ill' one.
Justification for Opportunism
The act of 'licking fingers' symbolizes the exploitation of opportunities for personal gain that arise from one's professional role. The proverb advises that it is unwise to let such opportunities pass by.
Pragmatic Self-Interest
The proverb offers a cynical yet pragmatic view of human nature, suggesting that it's natural and expected for individuals in positions of trust—such as trustees, guardians, or managers—to derive personal benefit from the resources they control. Failure to do so is framed not as virtue, but as incompetence or foolishness.
Social and Literary Context
Its use by a servingman in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' grounds the proverb in the everyday social fabric of the Elizabethan era, indicating it was a commonly understood piece of folk wisdom that reflects a worldly, rather than idealistic, perspective on professional conduct.
Moral Ambiguity
The proverb operates in a morally ambiguous space. While it can be interpreted as a justification for petty corruption or 'skimming off the top', it can also be seen as an endorsement of taking pride and finding reward in one's own work, suggesting that one should benefit from the value they create.
Psychology of Motivation
Psychologically, the proverb normalizes self-serving behavior by presenting it as a natural extension of one's role. It subtly critiques pure altruism as naive, reflecting a cultural assumption that personal gain is an inherent motivator in any position of power or control.
Rhetorical Devices
Metaphor
The 'cook' serves as a potent metaphor for any individual in a position of control over valuable resources, while 'licking his fingers' symbolizes the act of taking a personal share or benefit.
Irony
The proverb uses irony by labeling the honest or selfless person as 'ill' (incompetent or foolish), inverting conventional morality to praise pragmatic self-interest.
Imagery
The vivid, domestic image of a cook tasting their food makes the abstract concept of self-interest in a position of power concrete, relatable, and memorable.
Transcription
Quotations
He is an euyll coke that can not lycke his owne lyppes.
(A poore cooke that maie not).
(For as oure common prouerbe sayeth. He is an euyll cooke, that).
(It is an euill coke that may not).
(He is a sarie cook that may not).
We say, he is an ill Cooke that lickes not his owne fingers; One may say, he is vnwise, who in the managing of publicke businesse addes not somewhat vnto his priuate.
No cooke but lickes his oun fingers, wee see.
(An ill cooke that).
(An ill cooke cannot).
(that knoweth not to licke).
If the Cooke doe not lacke wit, hee will sweetly licke his fingers.
(An ill cook that).
[As in a1598 Ferg.].
[As in a1598 Ferg.].
Shakespeare Citations
Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers.
Annotations
- Apply'd satyrically to Receivers, Trustees, Guardians, and other Managers. Signifying that they will take a Share of what is among their Hands.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.