Meaning & Analysis
The phrase advises confronting or tolerating something, even if it is a devil that is only two years old. The absurdity of the literal image immediately points toward a figurative and ironic interpretation.
Insights
Inherent Nature of Evil
The proverb asserts that something inherently bad or dangerous cannot be trusted, regardless of its apparent youth or immaturity. A young devil is still a devil, and its fundamental nature is fixed and malicious.
Ironic Understatement
It is used ironically to mean the opposite of what it says. To claim someone is as 'harmless' as a young devil is to assert that they are actually very dangerous, as even an infant devil is a source of pure evil.
Deceptive Appearances
The proverb warns against being fooled by a seemingly innocuous exterior. A problem or person may appear small, new, or manageable, but their underlying nature can be profoundly and unchangeably destructive.
Theological Symbolism
The proverb leverages the potent Christian symbol of the devil to represent absolute, inherent evil. It suggests that evil is not a matter of degree or maturity but of essential, unchangeable nature, making even its youngest form dangerous.
Historical Prejudice
The 1666 citation, comparing the devil's nature to that of a 'Saracin', reveals the deep-seated religious and cultural prejudices of 17th-century England, using a common stereotype of cruelty to illustrate the proverb's point about inherent malevolence.
Psychological Warning
This proverb serves as a psychological caution against the common fallacy of underestimating nascent threats. It urges vigilance in recognizing and addressing problems or character flaws before they inevitably grow into greater dangers.
Rhetorical Devices
Irony
The proverb's primary power comes from its ironic application. It feigns to minimize a threat ('no more harm... than in a Devil of two years old') in order to powerfully emphasize its actual severity.
Hyperbole
The fantastical and exaggerated image of a two-year-old devil creates a memorable and striking statement about the enduring and inescapable nature of evil.
Symbolism
The 'devil' symbolizes intrinsic evil, while its young age symbolizes a nascent or seemingly harmless stage, creating a potent metaphor for latent danger that should not be ignored.
Transcription
Quotations
(of two yeare old).
To be as courteous as a Saracin, viz. most inhumane and cruel; spoken ironically; the English allusively say, There's no more harm in him, than in a Devil of two years old.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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