Meaning & Analysis
A cow named Margery produces a generous pail of milk but then kicks it over, spilling and wasting the entire amount.
Insights
Self-Sabotage
Describes an individual or entity that nullifies their own positive contributions through a subsequent foolish, careless, or malicious act. The initial good deed is rendered worthless by a final, destructive action.
Inconsistent Character
Illustrates the character of someone who is talented and productive but possesses a fatal flaw, such as a bad temper or unreliability, that ultimately undermines their own success and the benefits they provide to others.
Ruined Goodwill
Warns that a good deed or favor can be completely spoiled by the manner in which it is concluded. A positive action followed by a negative one can leave a worse impression than if nothing had been done at all.
Wasted Potential
Symbolizes wasted potential, where valuable effort and resources are squandered just before they can be realized, often due to a moment of thoughtlessness or a lapse in discipline.
Historical Symbolism
The proverb personifies a common human failing by giving the cow a familiar name, 'Margery'. Historically, cows symbolize maternal nourishment and patient productivity. By depicting the cow as destructive, the proverb creates a powerful metaphor for how a single negative act can spoil a reputation for generosity and hard work, turning a symbol of sustenance into one of frustration.
Psychological Insight
This proverb captures the acute psychological frustration of dealing with unreliable or self-defeating behavior. The initial positive act creates an expectation of reward, which is then abruptly negated, making the final negative impression more potent than the initial good deed. It reflects a cognitive bias where the most recent action heavily influences overall judgment.
Socio-Political Commentary
As evidenced by Thomas Fuller's 1639 quotation regarding Italian military campaigns, the proverb has long been applied to political and social commentary. It serves as a timeless critique of those who achieve a significant gain only to lose it through subsequent folly, such as infighting, arrogance, or carelessness.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb is built on the stark contrast between a productive, positive act (giving milk) and a destructive, negative one (kicking the pail), effectively highlighting the theme of self-defeat.
Imagery
The vivid, concrete image of a cow kicking over a pail of its own milk creates a memorable and universally understood picture of senseless waste and self-sabotage.
Personification
Giving the cow a common human name, 'Margery', personifies the animal, making the proverb a relatable commentary on human behavior rather than a simple observation about livestock.
Transcription
Quotations
Margery good cowe (quoth he) gaue a good meele, But than she cast it downe agayne with hir heele.
He breids of the goat that casts all downe at even and gives good milk all day.
But be not you like the Cow that giues a good sope of milke and casts it downe with his heeles.
(giueth a good deale of).
A curst cow giues a paile of milke, and kicks it downe with her heele.
Margerie good-cow gave a good meale, And when sh'ad done strok't down with her heele.
These Italians . . as at first they gave good milk, so they kicked it down with their heel, and by their mutuall discord caused the losse of all they helped to gain in Syria.
Turne not the bad Cow, after thy good soape.
Like a curst Cow that gives a paile of milk, and then kicks it down.
To spoyl ones self in the end, not to come off well; the English say, to play Margery good Cow, to give a good pail full of milk, and then kick it down with her foot.
Madge goodcow, gives a good pail of milk, and then kicks it down with her foot.
The Goat gives a good milking, but she casts it all down with her Foot.
My Cow gives a good Mess of Milk, and then kicks it down.
Cross References
- See DÜR., I, no. 952.
Annotations
- Spoken when they who do a piece of good Service, by their after Behaviour, spoils the good Grace of it.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.