Meaning & Analysis
In a literal race or flight, the person who is last or slowest will be captured or suffer the worst fate, which is metaphorically described as being taken by the Devil.
Insights
Ruthless Self-Interest
The proverb serves as a justification for ruthless self-interest, where individuals prioritize their own success and safety by abandoning those who fall behind. It champions a 'me-first' mentality in the face of competition or danger.
The Penalty for Failure
It implies that in any competitive endeavor, failure or slowness has dire consequences. Being the 'hindmost' is not just about losing; it's about facing complete ruin or disaster, from which there is no recovery.
Abandonment of Responsibility
The saying is a declaration of abandoning collective responsibility. It absolves the speaker of any duty to help the less fortunate or capable, framing survival as a purely individual struggle.
Historical Chaos and Retreat
The proverb evokes the chaos of a battlefield retreat or a panicked escape, where the social contract dissolves into a desperate, individualistic scramble for safety. The 'Devil' symbolizes the ultimate penalty for being last: death, capture, or utter ruin.
Psychology of Self-Preservation
This saying provides a stark justification for prioritizing self-preservation over collective well-being. It reflects a cynical worldview where compassion is a luxury that cannot be afforded in competitive or high-stakes situations, aligning with principles of Social Darwinism.
Radical Individualism
As a cross-reference to 'Every man for himself', this proverb underscores a philosophy of extreme individualism. It champions a ruthless approach to life, suggesting that looking out for others is a direct threat to one's own success and survival.
Rhetorical Devices
Symbolism
The 'Devil' is a powerful personification of ruin, damnation, or the ultimate negative consequence. This transforms a simple statement about being last into a powerful warning about the severe stakes of failure.
Hyperbole
The invocation of a supernatural entity like the Devil to describe the fate of the loser is a dramatic exaggeration. This hyperbole effectively communicates the grim, high-stakes nature of the situation.
Cynical Exhortation
The phrase functions as a dark, cynical exhortation. It's not just an observation but a declaration of intent, urging everyone to fend for themselves without regard for others.
Transcription
Quotations
They run all away, and cry the Devil take the hindmost.
Yet I have seen him trip it tithly too, And cry the Devil take the hindmost ever.
He came on purpose to quarrel with you; break first with him, and prevent it. —If it be come to that once, the devil take the hindmost.
[They] runs to their Pottle, which they mind most, Crying, the Devil take the hind-most.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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