Meaning & Analysis
Not all the grain in a country is harvested by 'kempers' (champion reapers); the bulk of the work is done by ordinary laborers.
Insights
Sufficiency over Perfectionism
The proverb metaphorically argues that society functions because of the cumulative efforts of its many average members, not just the exceptional talents of a few elites. Most necessary tasks do not require a master's touch.
Critique of Elitism
It suggests that focusing only on top performers is a form of elitism that overlooks the essential contributions of the broader population. It is a reminder that collective enterprise depends on the reliable work of the many.
Diversity of Skills
The proverb highlights that different tasks require different levels of skill. Not every situation demands a champion; often, a competent, standard effort is perfectly adequate and more practical for completing large-scale work.
Agrarian Labor and Competition
Originating in an agrarian society, the 'kemper' was a competitive reaper striving for a prize. The proverb underscores the practical reality that a community's survival depends on the collective labor of all, not just the fleeting glory of a few champions.
The Value of the Ordinary
The proverb serves as a powerful critique of elitism by highlighting that the vast majority of essential work in society is performed by competent, everyday individuals, not exclusively by top-tier experts. It champions the value of the 'good enough' over the pursuit of universal perfection.
Psychology of Competence
Psychologically, this proverb offers a comforting validation of ordinary competence. It counters the modern pressure for constant excellence and superstar performance, reassuring that steady, reliable contribution is the true foundation of collective success.
Rhetorical Devices
Synecdoche
'Corn' stands in for all societal work, and 'kempers' represent the elite in any field. This allows a specific agricultural image to convey a broad social principle.
Hyperbole
The phrase 'All the corn in the country' uses an exaggerated scale to emphasize that the task is too vast for a small group of experts, making the conclusion logically and rhetorically inevitable.
Metaphor
The entire statement functions as a metaphor for the distribution of labor and talent within any large system, from a company to a nation.
Transcription
Quotations
(by the Kempers)
(All Corn is not). *Things may be done wel enough by Men of ordinary Strength, Power, or Skill, though not excelling in any of these; and it is offer'd in excuse for a Man who may be useful in his Art or Profession, though there are many better.
Annotations
- reapers
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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