Meaning & Analysis
A man justifies the eccentric act of kissing his cow by stating the principle that everyone has their own unique affections and preferences.
Insights
Subjectivity of Taste
The proverb is a classic defense of subjective taste, arguing that preferences in love, life, and aesthetics are personal and not subject to external judgment. It humorously asserts that what one person cherishes, another may find bizarre.
Defense of the Unconventional
It serves as a justification for unconventional behavior or choices. The act of kissing a cow is an extreme example used to validate any action that defies social norms but is based on personal affection or preference.
Tolerance and Individuality
The proverb champions tolerance for the eccentricities of others. By presenting an absurd yet harmless act of affection, it encourages acceptance of individual differences and warns against imposing one's own standards on others.
Historical Agrarian Context
The cow, a vital source of sustenance and wealth in agrarian economies, symbolizes a farmer's livelihood. The man's affection, while comically exaggerated, reflects a genuine and profound appreciation for this essential asset, grounding the absurd image in historical reality.
Social Commentary
This proverb champions folk wisdom against rigid social norms, humorously defending the common person's right to their own peculiar joys and affections. It serves as a gentle rebuke to those who would judge others for unconventional tastes or behaviors.
Psychology of Preference
The proverb captures the psychological tendency to rationalize personal preferences, especially when they deviate from the norm. The 'good man' is not defensive but rather assertive, framing his unusual affection as a universal right to individual taste.
Rhetorical Devices
Anecdotal Evidence
The proverb uses a short, humorous anecdote—an exemplum—to illustrate the abstract principle of subjective taste, making the wisdom concrete, relatable, and memorable.
Hyperbole
The act of kissing a cow is a deliberate exaggeration used for comic effect. This absurdity makes the proverb's point about the boundless nature of personal preference more striking and unforgettable.
Direct Quotation
Framing the core message as a direct quotation ('quoth the good man') lends it an authentic, folksy authority. It presents the wisdom as grounded in the experience of an ordinary person rather than as an abstract rule.
Transcription
Quotations
(whan that he kyst his cowe).
I pray you when dyd ye last kisse your cowe.
I am as homlie as the good wife that for loue kist her cow.
In three hours not so much as a dry kiss. The old amorous deacon that embrac'd his cow Was not so destitute. Every ane to his taste as the auld man said when he kissed his coo.
(as hee likes).
(Every one as he likes).
Every one as she liketh, quoth the good woman when she kist her Cow.
Every one as she likes; the English say, as the good woman when she kiss'd her cow.
(Every man where he likes).
(Every one as they like best, as the good man said when).
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.