Meaning & Analysis
When someone owes a debt, their sincere intention and effort to repay it should be considered as a valid component of the settlement, even if they cannot pay the full amount.
Insights
The Value of Intention
The proverb argues that positive intentions and sincere efforts have intrinsic value and should be recognized and honored in all human transactions, not just financial ones. It champions the spirit of an obligation over the literal fulfillment.
Grace and Social Harmony
It serves as a call for compassion and grace in social relations. It suggests that rigid adherence to rules or debts at the expense of goodwill can be destructive, and that forgiveness and understanding are essential for community harmony.
Humanity over Materialism
The saying critiques a purely materialistic worldview by positing that human qualities like sincerity and effort can and should be 'monetized' or valued within exchanges, balancing material debt with moral credit.
Social and Economic Ethics
This proverb reflects a pre-modern economic and social ethic where personal relationships and reputation were paramount. In a time before formal credit systems, goodwill was a crucial form of social capital, and this saying codifies its value in transactional relationships.
Moral Philosophy
The proverb provides a moral counterpoint to purely transactional thinking. It suggests that human intention and effort possess inherent worth that transcends material value, advocating for mercy and understanding in dealings with others.
Psychological Insight
Psychologically, accepting goodwill as partial payment validates the debtor's effort and preserves their dignity, potentially fostering a stronger long-term relationship built on mutual respect rather than strict obligation.
Rhetorical Devices
Conceptual Metaphor
The proverb uses the abstract concept of 'good will' and places it in the concrete, financial context of 'payment', forcing a re-evaluation of what constitutes value.
Imperative Mood
The phrase 'should be taken' gives the proverb a prescriptive and advisory tone, framing it as a moral or ethical guideline for behavior.
Antithetical Pairing
The proverb balances the abstract ('good will') with the concrete ('payment'), creating a memorable and thought-provoking principle.
Transcription
Quotations
(for part Payment)
Annotations
- When People do their utmost to satisfy their Debts, or repay Kindnesses, it were a Pity to urge them farther.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.