Meaning & Analysis
To 'cry quittance' or 'cry quits' is to declare that a debt or obligation has been settled, often through retaliation. It signifies an intention to get even with someone, thereby balancing the scales and considering the matter concluded.
Insights
Intention of Retaliation
The proverb is a clear statement of intent to retaliate. It frames revenge not as a malicious act, but as a necessary action to re-establish balance after being wronged.
Settling a Social Debt
It metaphorically extends the concept of financial debt to social and emotional obligations. 'Crying quits' signifies the settling of a non-material account, whether it be an insult, a favor, or a slight, in order to restore relational equilibrium.
Declaration of Closure
The phrase acts as a declaration of closure. By settling the score, the speaker signals an end to a cycle of conflict or obligation, effectively wiping the slate clean from their perspective.
Assertion of Equality
By repaying a wrong in kind, the speaker refuses to remain in a victimized or inferior position. The act is an assertion of equality and a refusal to accept a lower status imposed by the initial offense.
Legal and Financial Origins
The term 'quittance' originates from legal and financial contexts, signifying a release from debt or obligation. The proverb applies this formal concept to personal grievances, framing retaliation as a legitimate and final settlement of a social 'debt'.
Psychology of Reciprocity
The phrase reveals a powerful psychological need for reciprocity and justice, often encapsulated by the 'eye for an eye' principle. It reflects the inherent human discomfort with being wronged or indebted and the compelling drive to restore equilibrium.
Social Honor and Standing
In historical social contexts where honor was paramount, being 'un-quitted' placed one at a distinct disadvantage. To 'cry quittance' was a public and assertive act of reclaiming one's honor and social standing by refusing to remain in a subordinate or slighted position.
Rhetorical Devices
Archaic Diction
The use of 'quittance', an archaic term for a legal release from debt, lends a formal, almost judicial weight to the act of personal revenge, elevating it from mere spite to a matter of settled justice.
Metaphor
The proverb is built on a financial metaphor, applying the language of debt settlement to the emotional and social landscape of personal grievances, which makes the abstract concept of revenge feel tangible and quantifiable.
Declarative Phrasing
The phrase is a forceful, direct statement of intent ('I'll cry...'). This declarative structure makes it a powerful and unambiguous promise of future action, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
Transcription
Quotations
I'le teach thee a way, to crye quittance with her before it be long.
Ile cry quittance with your pride.
This opportunitie was lost by the backwardnesse .. of the English, say the French writers. To cry quits with them, our English authours impute it to the envie of the French.
Annotations
- Page 23
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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