Meaning & Analysis
Literally, a sailor is so capable that even if tasked with carrying a heavy, dry millstone, he could somehow manage to extract a quart of liquid from it. The statement is an impossibility, intended to be understood figuratively.
Insights
Extreme Resourcefulness
The proverb is a hyperbolic statement about the extreme resourcefulness and cunning of seamen, particularly in their quest for alcoholic drink. It suggests their ingenuity knows no bounds when it comes to satisfying their thirst.
Unstoppable Craving
The act of getting a drink from a stone symbolizes an unstoppable craving. It portrays the sailor's desire for alcohol as a force so powerful that it can achieve the impossible, highlighting a perceived single-mindedness.
Inevitable Pilfering
As suggested by Ray's 1670 annotation, the proverb implies that sailors will inevitably find a way to take a share of anything they can 'come at'. The millstone represents any valuable cargo, from which the seaman will cleverly and illicitly extract his portion.
Maritime Culture and Hardship
This proverb reflects the harsh realities of 17th-century maritime life, where alcohol was a crucial part of the culture and daily rations. The seaman's ability to extract drink from an impossible source speaks to the desperation and ingenuity fostered by a life of hardship and monotony at sea.
The 'Drunken Sailor' Stereotype
The proverb is a classic example of a cultural stereotype, portraying the 'common mariner' as singularly focused on acquiring alcohol. This caricature, while humorous, reinforces a societal view of sailors as roguish, untrustworthy, and perpetually thirsty.
Economic Cunning and Pilfering
Beyond resourcefulness, the act of getting a 'quart' from a 'millstone' (likely representing cargo) implies pilfering or theft. It suggests that sailors, often underpaid and exploited, would use their cunning to take their share from the goods they transported, viewing it as a deserved, if illicit, perk.
Psychology of Desire
Psychologically, the proverb illustrates how intense desire can fuel extraordinary, almost magical, thinking. The seaman's determination is so absolute that it transcends the laws of nature, highlighting a human capacity to find solutions in seemingly impossible situations when motivation is high enough.
Rhetorical Devices
Hyperbole
The core of the proverb is its extreme exaggeration. The impossible act of drawing liquid from a stone serves to dramatically emphasize the seaman's supposed resourcefulness and insatiable thirst.
Symbolism
The 'millstone' symbolizes an impossible or unyielding situation, while the 'quart' represents the desired reward (drink). This symbolism transforms a simple statement into a powerful commentary on determination and cunning.
Irony
There is a subtle irony in taking a liquid 'quart' from a dry 'millstone', an object used for grinding grain into flour. The tool for producing solid food is transformed into a source of drink, subverting its purpose to serve the seaman's immediate desire.
Transcription
Quotations
*Spoken of the common mariners, if they can come at things that may be eat or drunk.
Annotations
- Ray 1670 and 1678 editions print quait for quart
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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