That will come when the DEVIL is blind

Insights

Ultimate Impossibility

The proverb serves as an absolute and emphatic declaration of impossibility. Tying an event to the Devil's blindness frames it as something that will never, under any circumstances, come to pass.

Cynical Dismissal of Promises

It is often used to express profound cynicism or distrust, particularly in response to a promise that the speaker believes is false. It dismisses the promise by equating its fulfillment with a supernatural absurdity.

Permanence of a Negative State

The Devil's sight can symbolize the permanence of evil, corruption, or a negative state of affairs. The proverb implies that certain conditions, like the dishonesty of brokers mentioned in one quote, will only change when the fundamental nature of evil itself is altered—which is to say, never.

Mockery of False Hope

The phrase is used to mock naive optimism or foolish hopes. By linking a desired outcome to an impossible precondition, it underscores the absurdity of expecting it to happen.

Theological and Folkloric Symbolism

The proverb draws its power from the theological concept of the Devil as an eternal, supernaturally perceptive being. His blindness would represent a fundamental, cosmic impossibility, a disruption of the established order of evil. This makes the expression a far more potent statement of 'never' than a simple negation.

Psychology of Cynicism

This expression serves as a psychological tool for expressing deep-seated cynicism or fatalism. It is often used to dismiss false promises or naive hopes with finality, functioning as a defense mechanism against disappointment by framing a potential outcome as utterly impossible.

Linguistic Hyperbole

The proverb is part of a rich tradition of colorful, hyperbolic phrases for 'never', such as 'when pigs fly' or the classical 'at the Greek Calends'. The use of the Devil adds a slightly profane, emphatic edge that conveys strong emotion, from exasperation to grim certainty.

Satirical Amplification

The addition in Jonathan Swift's 'Polite Conversation'—'and his eyes are not sore yet'—is a brilliant satirical flourish. It not only reinforces the idea of 'never' but pushes it further, suggesting that the impossible event is not even remotely close to happening, thereby mocking the original promise with even greater scorn.

Rhetorical Devices

Hyperbole

The proverb uses extreme exaggeration—the impossible event of the Devil going blind—to emphatically mean 'never'. This makes the statement far more forceful than a simple denial.

Symbolism

The Devil is a powerful symbol of eternal evil and supernatural power. His blindness becomes a potent metaphor for a complete and impossible reversal of the natural (or supernatural) order.

Dark Humor

The expression has a dark, ironic humor. The mundane, human affliction of blindness applied to a figure of ultimate evil creates a jarring and memorable image.

Anthropomorphism

Attributing a physical, human-like frailty (blindness) to a supernatural entity makes the abstract concept of 'never' more concrete and imaginatively vivid.