PLAIN DEALING is a jewel

Insights

Virtue of Honesty

Compares honest, transparent behavior to a rare and valuable jewel, emphasizing that genuine truthfulness stands out amid commonplace deceit or pretense.

Rarity of Sincerity

Implies that plain dealing—true candor and integrity—is uncommon and therefore highly prized, as jewels are both beautiful and scarce.

Moral Idealism vs. Social Pragmatism

The proverb upholds honesty as an ideal, but its cross-references (‘Plain dealing is a jewel but they that use it die beggars’) point to skepticism about whether society consistently rewards this virtue. The proverb thus reflects both admiration for and ambivalence about honest conduct.

Literary and Cultural Resonance

Shakespeare’s works and Restoration drama frequently use ‘plain dealing’ to contrast sincerity with cunning or courtly rhetoric, revealing a longstanding cultural debate about the place of honesty in public and private life.

Psychological Value

On a personal level, plain dealing can be both liberating and risky—offering clarity and trustworthiness, but sometimes at social or material cost. The ‘jewel’ metaphor acknowledges its intrinsic worth, regardless of external reward.

Rhetorical Devices

Metaphor

Directly likens honesty to a jewel, conveying a sense of rarity, brilliance, and desirability.

Antithesis

The proverb’s broader usage often contrasts plain dealing with duplicity or artifice, sharpening the impact of its praise for honesty.

Allusion

References to jewels tap into longstanding symbolic traditions where precious stones represent moral and personal virtues.