Meaning & Analysis
Based on the Scottish custom of serving broth (kale) before the main meat course, the proverb literally means that a person who complains about the initial broth is complaining prematurely, as they have not yet seen the more substantial part of the meal to come.
Insights
Premature Judgment
The proverb is a caution against premature judgment. To 'complain on his kale' is to form a final, negative opinion about a situation or endeavor based on incomplete, early information, ignoring the possibility of a better outcome.
The Folly of Impatience
It highlights the folly of impatience. The act of complaining about the first, simple course reveals a lack of foresight and an inability to wait for a process to fully unfold before evaluating it.
Humble Beginnings
It underscores the idea that beginnings are often humble. The simple 'kale' represents the necessary, sometimes unglamorous, preliminary stage of a larger, more rewarding experience that will follow if one is patient.
Scottish Culinary Custom
The proverb is deeply embedded in Scottish culinary tradition, where a simple broth (kail or kale) was served as a first course before the main meat dish. Its meaning is inseparable from this cultural context, acting as a piece of localized wisdom.
Psychology of Patience
Psychologically, the proverb critiques a pessimistic outlook and the inability to practice delayed gratification. The person who 'plaints early' is one who cannot endure a modest beginning in anticipation of a more substantial reward.
Universal Warning Against Haste
While culturally specific, the proverb’s message is universal. It serves as a timeless warning against making hasty, negative judgments about any multi-stage endeavor—be it a project, a career, or a relationship—based only on its initial, perhaps unimpressive, phase.
Rhetorical Devices
Metaphor
'Kale' (broth) serves as a potent metaphor for the initial, and often less satisfying, stage of any experience, while the unspoken main course represents the eventual reward.
Cultural Allusion
The proverb's entire meaning is derived from a direct allusion to a specific Scottish dining custom, making it a powerful piece of cultural shorthand for those familiar with the tradition.
Repetition
The repetition of 'plaints' (complains) serves to emphasize the central theme of complaint, giving the proverb a memorable, rhythmic cadence.
Transcription
Quotations
He tarrows early that tarrows on his Kail.
The Scots, for their first Dish have Broth (which they call Kail) and their Flesh-meat, boil'd or roasted, after. Spoken when Men complain before they see the utmost that they will get.
Annotations
- complains
- broth
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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