Thither as I would go I can go late, thither as I would not go I know not the GATE

Insights

Willpower and Desire

The proverb is a metaphor for how personal will and desire shape one's life. We naturally find or create pathways toward our goals and ambitions, even with delays, while we remain willfully ignorant of the means to achieve ends we find repellent.

Moral Inclination

It speaks to a person's moral compass. The path to a virtuous or desired outcome is one we are willing to travel, no matter how long it takes. The path to vice or an unwanted outcome is one we refuse to even learn, effectively closing it off as a possibility.

Psychology of Action and Avoidance

The statement reflects the psychology of procrastination versus avoidance. We may delay acting on our true desires ('I can go late'), confident we will eventually get there, but we actively avoid and refuse to even learn about paths we fundamentally reject ('I know not the gate').

Cognitive Barriers

Psychologically, the proverb illustrates the power of cognitive barriers. By claiming ignorance of the 'gate' to an undesirable path, an individual erects a mental defense that makes temptation or deviation from their principles less accessible, reinforcing their chosen course of action.

Moral and Spiritual Journeys

The 'gate' is a powerful and ancient symbol in moral and spiritual traditions (e.g., the gates of heaven, the 'strait gate' of the Gospels). The proverb frames life choices as a journey where one's character and will determine which paths are even visible or accessible.

Declaration of Character

The proverb can be interpreted as a sophisticated declaration of personal principles. It frames one's commitments not as a struggle against temptation, but as a fundamental aspect of one's being, where the alternative path is not just rejected but entirely unknown.

Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis and Parallelism

The proverb is built on a perfectly balanced parallel structure that contrasts desired and undesired destinations, using antithesis to highlight the decisive role of personal will.

Symbolism

The 'gate' serves as a powerful symbol for the initial step, opportunity, or knowledge required to begin a course of action. To 'not know the gate' implies a complete moral or psychological barrier.

Archaic Diction

The use of archaic language like 'thither' lends the proverb a formal, timeless quality, elevating its tone from a simple preference to a profound statement of enduring principle.