Meaning & Analysis
The proverb literally means to understand how the Latin word 'judicare' (to judge) became a part of the Christian Creed, referring to the line about Christ coming 'to judge the living and the dead'. The phrasing implies learning this through experience or 'by proofe', not just by rote.
Insights
The High Cost of Wisdom
The proverb metaphorically describes gaining wisdom through a harsh or painful experience. 'Judicare' represents a moment of severe judgment or negative consequence, and the 'creed' symbolizes one's core, personal belief system, which has been fundamentally altered by this lesson.
Forced Acceptance of Harsh Reality
It signifies a loss of innocence or a cynical awakening. To learn 'how Judicare came into the creed' is to be forced to accept the harsh reality of judgment and accountability as a fundamental principle of life, often due to betrayal or a severe setback.
From Theory to Lived Experience
The proverb illustrates the transition from theoretical knowledge to practical, hard-won understanding. One might recite a 'creed' without thought, but to 'know' how judgment ('Judicare') entered it implies that one has personally felt its force, making the abstract principle a concrete reality.
Theological Allusion as Personal Metaphor
The proverb alludes to the Apostles' Creed ('inde venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos'), transforming a core Christian doctrine of divine judgment into a metaphor for a harsh, personal lesson. It suggests that true understanding of consequences comes not from abstract belief but from bitter, lived experience.
Psychology of Disillusionment
Psychologically, the proverb describes the integration of a painful truth into one's fundamental worldview. A person who 'knows how Judicare came into the creed' has been forced by experience to adopt a more cautious, or even cynical, perspective on trust and accountability.
Creed as a Symbol of Trust
The cross-referenced proverb, 'He may be in my paternoster but he shall never come in my creed', highlights the distinction between social formality (prayer) and core belief. Our proverb, J98, represents the painful outcome of mistakenly letting someone into one's 'creed', thereby learning the necessity of 'judicare' (judgment) firsthand.
Rhetorical Devices
Metaphor and Symbolism
The proverb uses 'creed' as a metaphor for one's personal worldview and 'Judicare' (to judge) as a symbol for the harsh reality of consequences and accountability.
Religious Allusion
The entire phrase is a sophisticated allusion to the Apostles' Creed, using its cultural and religious authority to lend weight to the idea of a profound, life-altering lesson.
Ironic Juxtaposition
The use of the formal Latin term 'Judicare' creates an ironic contrast with the informal, deeply personal, and often painful experience of learning the lesson it represents.
Transcription
Quotations
(I am taught to know .. How).
So know they by proofe .. How Iudicare came to their creede.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan

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