Meaning & Analysis
The type and quality of a planted seed will determine the nature and quality of the crop that is ultimately harvested.
Insights
Actions and Consequences
This proverb serves as a powerful metaphor for the law of cause and effect, asserting that one's actions, intentions, or efforts (the 'seed') will inevitably lead to corresponding results (the 'harvest').
Personal Responsibility
It underscores the principle of personal accountability, suggesting that individuals are the primary authors of their own fortunes and misfortunes. The outcomes one experiences are not random but are a direct result of their previous choices.
Moral Justice
The proverb implies a sense of cosmic or moral justice, where good deeds are rewarded and negative actions lead to undesirable outcomes. It suggests an inherent fairness in the way consequences are matched to actions.
Importance of Foundations
It highlights the critical importance of initial conditions and foundations. A successful outcome ('harvest') is contingent upon a high-quality starting point ('seed'), warning that poor beginnings cannot yield positive results.
Agricultural and Biblical Roots
The proverb's authority stems from its deep origins in both agricultural wisdom and religious scripture, notably the biblical passage from Galatians. This dual grounding makes its central metaphor of sowing and reaping universally accessible and morally resonant.
Psychological Reciprocity
This proverb encapsulates the psychological principle of reciprocity. The energy, intentions, and quality of effort one invests in any endeavor—be it personal relationships, work, or self-development—directly shape the nature of the outcome.
Universal Principle of Causality
The concept transcends its biblical origins, aligning with universal philosophical and spiritual principles like the Eastern concept of karma. This highlights a cross-cultural human understanding of moral and practical causality.
Rhetorical Devices
Metaphor
The core of the proverb is a metaphor comparing the agricultural cycle of planting and harvesting to the broader human experience of actions and their ultimate consequences.
Parallelism
The 'Such X, such Y' construction creates a direct and forceful parallel, structurally reinforcing the inseparable link between the cause (seed) and the effect (harvest).
Sibilance
The repetition of the 's' sound in 'Such SEED such' creates a soft, memorable sonic quality that enhances its proverbial feel and impact.
Transcription
Quotations
Such seede as ye sow, such reape or else mowe.
Looke how you sow so shall you reape.
Bible Citations
Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan

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