Meaning & Analysis
The practice of accurately weighing and measuring goods, particularly in trade, is a fundamental characteristic of a wise and prudent person. It ensures fairness and prevents disputes.
Insights
Prudence and Deliberation
The proverb serves as a metaphor for the wisdom of careful deliberation and judgment in all aspects of life. 'Meting and measuring' symbolizes the act of assessing a situation thoroughly before making a decision or taking action.
Fairness and Impartiality
It metaphorically advocates for fairness and impartiality in human relations. Applying objective standards ('mete and measure') rather than personal bias is presented as the wise path to justice and resolving conflicts.
Moderation and Self-Restraint
The phrase can be interpreted as a call for self-control and moderation. A wise person 'measures' their appetites, words, and ambitions, avoiding the extremes of excess and deficiency.
Commercial and Economic Prudence
The proverb reflects the values of a commercial society, where standardized weights and measures are essential for fair trade and preventing disputes. Its wisdom is rooted in the practical necessity of objective, verifiable standards in economic transactions, as highlighted by the cross-reference 'Weight and measure take away strife.'
Objectivity over Subjectivity
This saying champions a shift from subjective judgment to objective standards. It suggests that wisdom is grounded in empirical reality and verifiable facts rather than impulse or opinion, a foundational principle for science, law, and rational thought.
Philosophical Call for Moderation
Echoing classical virtues like the Greek 'sophrosyne' (temperance) and the Roman 'moderatio', the proverb elevates moderation and self-restraint to a form of wisdom. To 'measure' one's actions and desires is to live a balanced and judicious life.
Psychology of Fairness and Order
Psychologically, the proverb speaks to the human need for fairness, order, and predictability. Applying 'mete and measure' reduces ambiguity and the potential for conflict, which is a wise strategy for maintaining social harmony and personal integrity.
Rhetorical Devices
Alliteration
The repetition of the 'm' sound in 'Mete and measure make men' creates a memorable, rhythmic quality that enhances its proverbial force.
Parallelism
The use of two similar words, 'Mete and measure', reinforces the central concept of quantification and careful assessment, adding weight and emphasis to the idea.
Metaphor
The proverb uses the concrete actions of measuring to represent the abstract quality of wisdom, making the concept tangible and easily understood.
Transcription
Quotations
(maks).
(make all Men wise).
Cross References
Annotations
- Spoken when People would have what they buy weighed, or measured.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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