Meaning & Analysis
Literally, this proverb warns against giving pearls—objects of great value—to pigs, which cannot recognize or appreciate their worth.
Insights
Misplaced Generosity
It cautions against offering valuable things—be they wisdom, gifts, or kindness—to those incapable of understanding or appreciating them, implying such efforts are wasted.
Futility of Instruction
The proverb also serves as a warning about trying to teach, advise, or reason with the obstinate or ignorant, who are unlikely to benefit from or respect what is offered.
Discernment and Discretion
It calls for discernment, urging one to consider carefully the audience before sharing precious insights or treasures, lest they be misunderstood or devalued.
Biblical and Moral Roots
The proverb originates from the Gospel of Matthew (vii.6), aligning with teachings about spiritual prudence and the sanctity of holy things. Its pairing of 'dogs' and 'swine' with 'holy' and 'pearls' highlights a longstanding concern with preserving what is sacred from profanation.
Historical and Literary Resonance
Renaissance and early modern writers such as Barclay and More expanded the proverb's meaning, applying it to material as well as intellectual and moral contexts. Shakespeare's use—'pearl enough for a swine'—ironically underscores the mismatch between giver and recipient.
Psychological Dimensions
On a psychological level, the proverb reflects frustration with unappreciative audiences and warns against the emotional exhaustion of fruitless generosity. It supports healthy boundaries by validating selective sharing.
Cross-Cultural Parallels
Analogous sayings exist globally, such as 'It is folly to strew roses amongst swine' or 'Put not thy meat in an unclean dish,' revealing a universal anxiety about the loss of value through careless or indiscriminate giving.
Rhetorical Devices
Metaphor
The vivid metaphor of pearls and swine distills complex advice into a single, arresting image of value wasted on the unworthy.
Antithesis
By juxtaposing objects of great value (pearls) with symbols of ignorance (swine), the proverb underscores the dissonance between giver and recipient.
Allusion
Direct biblical allusion lends the saying authority and gravitas, rooting it in spiritual tradition and collective memory.
Transcription
Quotations
Cast precious stones or golde amonges swyne And they had leuer haue dreggis fylth or chaffe.
Such hogges and dogges as were not metely to haue those precious perles put vpon their nose.
Cast not perles afore swyne. For spech is the meate of the mynde. But thys meat is corrupted and doth putrify, yf it fal into an vnsounde minde.
But you, to cast precious stones before hogs.
Folly to cast precious stones before hogs.
This is the olde prouerbe, to cast perles to an hogge.
Cibum in matulam ne immitas. A Prouerbe agreeing with that saying of Christ, cast not pearles before swine, that is, vse no ciuile communication with a peruerse and naughty fellowe.
For to reason of learning amongst such maner of people, is according to the Prouerbe, To sow pearles amongst Swine.
Pearles should not be cast befor swyne.
To cast Eloquence amongst a companie of Stinctards, is all one as if a man should scatter Pearle amongst the hoggish animals eclipsed Swine.
It's ill casting pretious stones before swine: Yet some very sowes it makes very fine.
Peace knaue, I say, these pearls must not feed Porkets.
Lay pearle before Swine.
You lay pearle before swine.
This is to cast Perls before swine.
To cast Pearls before Swine, viz. to loss, and to no purpose.
So that till the nation was dispossest of this spirit, it was not fit to cast the pearl before them.
Bible Citations
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine.
Shakespeare Citations
Fire enough for a flint, pearl enough for a swine.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.