Meaning & Analysis
A person with special wisdom or foresight (a prophet) will not be esteemed or believed by the people in their own hometown or country, who are too familiar with their ordinary origins.
Insights
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
The proverb signifies that exceptional talent, innovative ideas, or profound insights are often overlooked or dismissed by those who are closest to the source. Familiarity with a person's mundane background can blind a community to their extraordinary capabilities.
Resistance to Local Innovation
It serves as a cautionary statement about the resistance to change from within a community. An 'outsider' may be seen as a credible expert, while a local person offering the same ideas is often met with skepticism and distrust.
The Burden of the Past
The proverb highlights the psychological burden of personal history. An individual's past can prevent their own community from acknowledging their growth and present achievements, trapping them in an outdated public perception.
Value of Distance
It suggests that true recognition often requires distance. An individual may need to venture beyond their familiar environment to have their talents objectively assessed and valued, free from the preconceived notions of their peers.
Biblical Authority
The proverb's authority is deeply rooted in its biblical origin (Matthew 13:57), where Jesus articulates this sentiment after being rejected in his hometown of Nazareth. This scriptural foundation has cemented its status as a profound cultural truth in the Western world.
Psychology of Familiarity
This proverb reflects the psychological phenomenon of 'familiarity breeds contempt'. Those who have witnessed an individual's ordinary upbringing and imperfections often struggle to accept their subsequent claims to extraordinary talent or wisdom, as their perception is clouded by personal history.
Social Envy
The idea resonates with the 'tall poppy syndrome'—a social tendency to resent or discredit individuals who achieve a status significantly above their peers. The community's skepticism can stem from envy or a collective inability to see one of their own as exceptional.
The Outsider's Advantage
The concept is a recurring motif in biography and literature, where artists, thinkers, and innovators must often leave their homeland to gain recognition. Fame abroad frequently precedes honor at home, highlighting a universal pattern of local resistance to homegrown genius.
Rhetorical Devices
Metaphor
The term 'prophet' serves as a powerful metaphor for any visionary, artist, innovator, or person of exceptional talent who is ahead of their time or community.
Hyperbole
The use of the absolute 'No MAN' creates a sweeping, universal statement. This hyperbole strengthens the proverb's impact, presenting the experience as an inescapable human truth.
Antithesis
The proverb creates a stark contrast between the elevated status of a 'prophet' and the commonness of 'his own country', effectively highlighting the central irony of being unappreciated by one's own people.
Transcription
Quotations
No man hath beene a Prophet, not onely in his house, but in his owne country, saith the experience of histories.
Le sainct de la ville n'est point oré: Men least respect their owne, or that they are vsed to; our well-knowne patrons are the least implored.
In a word, conceive him as a prophet honour'd In his own country.
A Prophet of small account in his own countrey.
Bible Citations
And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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