Meaning & Analysis
The character, behavior, and quality of a servant (the 'man') are a direct reflection of the character, behavior, and quality of his employer (the 'master').
Insights
Leadership and Influence
A leader's character and actions directly shape the behavior and morals of their subordinates. The qualities of the followers are a direct report card on the leader.
Organizational Culture
The values and conduct of followers are a direct reflection of the standards set by their leader, revealing the overall culture of a group, organization, or household.
Ultimate Accountability
A leader is ultimately responsible for the conduct of those under their authority, as a subordinate's actions are considered an extension of the leader's will and influence.
Mutual Reflection
The quality of followers that a leader attracts and retains serves as a mirror to the leader's own character. A worthy leader will attract worthy followers, and vice versa.
Hierarchical Society
Originating in a master-servant social structure, the proverb reflects a time when a subordinate's identity was seen as a direct extension of their master's household and character.
Principle of Leadership
This proverb is an early, vernacular expression of the modern leadership concept of 'tone at the top', where the ethical and operational standards of an organization are set by its highest authorities.
Psychological Modeling
It encapsulates the psychological principle of modeling, where subordinates unconsciously or consciously imitate the behaviors and values of those in positions of authority.
Rhetorical Devices
Parallelism
The balanced 'Such X such Y' structure creates a memorable and emphatic equation, suggesting an inescapable correspondence between the two subjects.
Anaphora
The repetition of 'such' at the start of each clause reinforces the direct, one-to-one correlation between the man and the master.
Brevity
Its extreme conciseness distills a complex social and psychological dynamic into a powerful, four-word maxim, making it highly impactful and memorable.
Transcription
Quotations
Beeyng lyke men, like maister, accordyng to the prouerbe.
For if the prouerbe be true, That like man like maister, —and that a fishe beginneth first to smell at the head, there is no doubt, but the faultes of our servantes will be layed uppon us.
Sike a man sike a master.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.