PROVENDER pricks him

Meaning & Analysis

Abundant food or sustenance stimulates a horse (or a person), making them lively, spirited, or sometimes unruly.

Insights

Stimulus of Good Fortune

The proverb metaphorically extends the behavior of well-fed horses—becoming frisky or bold when provided with plenty—to people, suggesting that comfort or prosperity often provokes liveliness, assertiveness, or even mischief.

Motivation by Material Gain

It highlights how material well-being or gain ('provender') can prompt increased energy, ambition, or even insolence in individuals, who may act differently when their basic needs are abundantly met.

Ingratitude or Arrogance

Sometimes the proverb carries a critical edge, implying that those who are well provided for become self-willed, ungrateful, or troublesome—forgetting their previous dependence or humility.

Historical and Social Usage

Originating from observations of horse behavior, the proverb was frequently used in early modern England as a sly or humorous comment on people’s conduct after a change in circumstances—often aimed at upstarts or newly prosperous individuals.

Psychological Resonance

It reflects a psychological truth: abundance can change character, emboldening people to act in ways they wouldn’t when needy, sometimes leading to overconfidence or disruptive energy.

Moral and Social Commentary

The proverb gently mocks or warns against the tendency for increased means to breed restlessness, ambition, or insubordination, especially in social or occupational hierarchies.

Rhetorical Devices

Metonymy

'Provender' stands for material comfort or sustenance, representing more generally the things that animate or provoke action.

Personification

Attributes agency to 'provender,' making it the active force that 'pricks' or incites behavior.

Conciseness

The brevity and directness of the phrase make it punchy and adaptable to a range of contexts.

prosperitymotivationbehaviorabundancechangearrogance

Analyzed with gpt-4.1 on July 10, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

When prouander pryckt him a lytle tyne, He dyd as thou didst.

— 1546, HEY., I xi, s. D3

(His prouender).

— 1562, HEY., Epig., 236, p. 164

That now to lust thy prouender doth pricke.

— 1591, DRAYTON, Harm. Church, I 52: Wks., I 6

But—my Prouender scarce pricks me.

— 1647, FLETCHER ET AL., Hon. Man's Fort., V, p. 266

— 1616, DR., s.v. Follie, no. 766

— Ibid., s.v. Prosperity, no. 1748

Well my Lord Innekeepers second son: Does your Prouender prick you?

— 1632, R. BROME, North. Lass, V V, p. 92

— 1659, HOW., Eng. Prov., p. 14

— 1670, RAY, p. 190

Cross References

See St., no. 369.

Related Proverbs

G420 To cut the GRASS whereof another meant to make hay 92.8%A158 ALL lay load on a willing horse 92.3%F764 To fret like a FROG under a harrow 92.2%Y26 Three dear YEARS will raise a baker's daughter to a portion 92.1%F436 It is FOLLY to strew roses amongst swine (hogs) 92.1%N27 He who but once a good NAME gets may piss abed and say he sweats 92.0%L69 Like a LAPWING that runs away with the shell on its head 91.9%F622 He that has but FOUR and spends five has no need of a purse 91.9%G15 The GALLOWS groans for you 91.9%P406 No PLAYING with (It is ill to draw) a straw before an old cat 91.9%G359 It is a blind GOOSE that knows not a fox from a fern bush 91.9%F348 When FLATTERERS meet the devil goes to dinner 91.8%P633 PUDDINGS and paramours would be hotly handled 91.7%L575 He that would have good LUCK in horses (horseflesh) must kiss the parson's wife 91.7%M22 A MAID that laughs is half taken 91.6%P423 Stolen PLEASURES are sweetest 91.6%K151 Their own KNAVERY will pay them home at length 91.6%P523 Plain¹ of POVERTY and die a beggar 91.6%F488 He that sends a FOOL expects one 91.5%A37 More ADO than needs 91.5%

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