Meaning & Analysis
When one receives meal (ground grain or flour) from the devil, half of it turns out to be bran (the coarse, less desirable outer husk of the grain). This means the product is of poor quality and less valuable than expected.
Insights
The Flawed Nature of Ill-Gotten Gains
Anything obtained through evil, dishonest, or unethical means ('the devil's meal') will ultimately be flawed and less valuable than it appears. It warns that ill-gotten gains are inherently corrupted and will lead to disappointment.
Deceptive Promises of Evil
The proverb serves as a warning against temptation and making immoral compromises. It suggests that the promises of evil are deceptive, and the rewards for unethical behavior will always fall short of expectations, proving to be partially or wholly worthless.
Corruption at the Source
This illustrates the principle that any venture or product originating from a corrupt source will itself be corrupted. The 'bran' symbolizes the inevitable and inseparable imperfection that comes from a morally compromised origin.
Agricultural and Religious Symbolism
The devil, a central figure of temptation and deceit in Christian theology, is metaphorically cast as a miller who provides corrupted sustenance. Meal and bran, fundamental elements of baking, serve as powerful symbols for value and waste, grounding the abstract moral lesson in the tangible reality of daily sustenance.
Critique of Ill-Gotten Gains
This proverb reflects a deep-seated cultural suspicion of shortcuts and 'easy' gains. It reinforces a Protestant-like work ethic, suggesting that true value ('pure flour') comes only from righteous labor, whereas gains from immoral or lazy sources are inherently flawed and will ultimately prove disappointing.
Psychological Cost of Unethical Behavior
The proverb speaks to the psychological truth that achievements tainted by unethical actions often bring dissatisfaction, guilt, or anxiety. The 'bran' can be interpreted as the psychological cost that diminishes or spoils the pleasure of the reward, making the gain feel hollow.
Rhetorical Devices
Metaphor
The proverb uses the 'devil's meal' as a metaphor for any gain acquired through immoral means, and 'bran' as a metaphor for the resulting worthlessness and disappointment.
Antithesis
The contrast between 'meal' (valuable, life-sustaining flour) and 'bran' (waste product, animal feed) creates a powerful antithesis that highlights the stark difference between appearance and reality.
Personification
The devil is personified as a miller or provider, creating a simple but effective allegorical warning against dealing with corrupting influences.
Transcription
Quotations
Halfe of the diuels meale turnes vnto branne.
(turnes all to branne).
The Devils meale is halfe branne.
The Devils meal turns more then half to bran.
The Devils flower turns all to bran.
[As in 1639 Cl.]
The Devil's Flour is half Bran.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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