He has his EYES at his belt, his stomach in his purse, his foot in his hand

Insights

A Portrait of Avarice

The proverb paints a vivid picture of a person whose priorities are fundamentally disordered by greed. Their 'eyes at his belt' signify a focus on base, worldly desires; the 'stomach in his purse' shows their natural appetites are controlled by money; and the 'foot in his hand' suggests they are perpetually unsettled and ready to move for material gain.

Unnatural and Disordered State

The bizarre imagery emphasizes an unnatural state of being. The subject is so consumed by materialism that their very humanity is contorted and disorganized, representing a person living in a morally and psychologically grotesque condition.

Lack of Higher Vision

The phrase 'eyes at his belt' specifically suggests a lack of higher vision or moral guidance. The person's gaze is lowered, focused only on earthly and carnal matters (wealth, lust), rather than on intellectual, spiritual, or ethical concerns.

Perpetual Restlessness

Holding one's 'foot in his hand' symbolizes a state of constant readiness and instability. This person is not grounded or at peace but is always prepared to act, either to seize an advantage or to flee an obligation, reflecting the restless anxiety that often accompanies greed.

Embodiment of Vice

The proverb uses grotesque physical displacement to create a moral caricature of a person consumed by avarice. By mapping vices onto the body, it illustrates how obsession can fundamentally distort one's humanity, creating a portrait of an individual whose entire being—perception, appetite, and stability—is warped by materialism.

Psychology of Avarice

The imagery reflects a deep-seated psychological anxiety. The 'stomach in his purse' suggests a painful, constant calculation of cost versus desire, while the 'foot in his hand' implies a restless inability to be settled, always ready to flee or pursue the next opportunity. It's a portrait of a person in a state of perpetual, self-inflicted agitation.

The Miser vs. The Epicure

The Fuller quotation from 1732, contrasting the Epicure and the Miser, provides a crucial interpretive key. The proverb clearly depicts the miser, whose appetites are imprisoned by his wealth, as opposed to the epicure, whose wealth is consumed by his appetites. This highlights a timeless moral and economic tension.

Rhetorical Devices

Grotesque Hyperbole

The proverb relies on exaggerated and physically impossible imagery to create a powerful and memorable caricature of the subject's moral corruption.

Symbolism

Each clause functions as a distinct symbol: the 'eyes' for perception and focus, the 'stomach' for natural desires, the 'purse' for wealth, and the 'foot' for stability and action. Their unnatural placement creates a rich symbolic meaning.

Parallel Structure

The proverb is built on a repetitive triadic structure ('his X in his Y'), which creates a powerful rhythm and reinforces the sense of a complete and systematic disorder in the person's character.