FANCY may bolt¹ bran and think it flour

Insights

Self-Deception

The proverb illustrates how imagination or wishful thinking can delude people into mistaking illusion for reality—valuing what is base as if it were fine, or seeing merit where there is none.

Power of Subjectivity

It emphasizes the subjective nature of value and perception: what one fancies may be esteemed highly, even if objectively it is of little worth.

Folly of Infatuation

In matters of love or obsession, individuals may be so captivated by their own fancy that they invest worth or beauty in what is, in truth, unremarkable or unworthy.

Historical Symbolism

The imagery of bolting (sifting) flour was familiar in early modern households. Mistaking bran for flour would have been a clear sign of error or self-delusion—a practical metaphor for the failings of unchecked fancy.

Psychological Dynamics

The proverb exposes a deep psychological mechanism: the tendency to see what one wishes to see, filtering reality through desire or prejudice. This can lead to disappointment, poor decisions, or the nourishing of ‘fools,’ as noted in the period quotations.

Cultural Commentary

Echoed in the cross-reference, 'The worth of a thing is as it is esteemed,' the saying critiques the human penchant for misplaced value, reminding us that consensus or personal opinion does not guarantee true worth.

Rhetorical Devices

Metaphor

The process of sifting bran and mistaking it for flour stands as a metaphor for self-deception, vividly illustrating how false value judgments arise.

Irony

There is an ironic twist in fancy’s effort: despite the labor of bolting, the outcome is still delusion—a reminder of the futility of wishful thinking.

Alliteration

The repetition of the 'f' sounds in 'fancy,' 'flour,' and the soft 'b' in 'bolt' and 'bran' create a rhythmic, memorable phrase.