Meaning & Analysis
The fox is said to thrive most when it is cursed or blamed, especially by those it has wronged—such as farmers whose poultry it has stolen.
Insights
Prospering Despite Criticism
The proverb suggests that those who attract the most anger or condemnation may, paradoxically, be the ones succeeding or prospering most—often precisely because their actions have been effective, if unpopular.
Envy and Success
It also reflects the notion that open resentment or cursing is a sign of someone’s enviable fortune or skill, since envy and complaint are companions to prosperity and effectiveness.
Resilience of the Crafty
The saying can also highlight the resilience or thriving of clever or cunning individuals, who flourish even in the face of public scorn or animosity.
Folklore and Animal Symbolism
In rural tradition, the fox—infamous for raiding henhouses—would be most cursed by those it outwitted. The more successful the fox’s thefts, the greater the outcry from the community, turning condemnation into an ironic measure of the fox’s success.
Social and Psychological Commentary
The proverb encodes a subtle understanding of social dynamics: public censure or gossip may actually be evidence of someone’s hidden achievements or of the threat they pose to others’ interests.
Moral Ambivalence
There is an implicit ambivalence: while the proverb can be a consolation to those envied or maligned, it also hints at the persistence of cunning or unscrupulous individuals who thrive on notoriety and attention.
Rhetorical Devices
Irony
The proverb’s force comes from its ironic inversion: that cursing, meant to harm or shame, actually marks and even increases the fox’s (or person’s) success.
Animal Metaphor
The fox, as a symbol of cunning and success at others’ expense, is apt and vivid, lending the proverb a memorable, concrete quality.
Alliteration and Rhythm
Phrases like 'fox fares best' or 'fox is cursed' employ subtle alliteration and balance, aiding their oral transmission.
Transcription
Quotations
The Fox fareth the better and not the worse: When that the good wife doth him ban and cursse.
A fox . . better for banning.
Winners bost, when leesers speake their fill . . still the foxe fares best when he is curst.
So sir, the more the Fox is curst the better a fares.
But I perceiue you fare as the fox, the more band, the better hap.
(when he is most Careste [cursed]).
(wel).
(well).
(most cursed).
Like the fox, the more hee's ban'd the better he fares.
(banned).
(well).
The more the fox is curs'd, the better prey makes she.
The fox never fares better, then when he's ban'd [or curst].
The Tod [fox] never fares better than when he's ban'd.
Annotations
- Spoken when we are told that such People curse us, which we think the effect of Envy, the Companion of Felicity. The Fox is curs'd when he takes our Poultry.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.