Hang him that has no SHIFTS and hang him that has too many

Insights

The Virtue of Moderation

The proverb serves as a powerful argument for moderation, suggesting that both a complete lack of a quality (resourcefulness) and an excess of it (deviousness) are equally undesirable. The ideal path is a balance between these two extremes.

Social Utility and Danger

It defines the value of an individual to society. A person with 'no shifts' is useless and a potential burden, while a person with 'too many' is a danger who exploits the social order. Both are rejected as non-functional members of a community.

Pragmatism vs. Deceit

The proverb distinguishes between necessary pragmatism and unethical deceit. Having 'shifts' is essential for navigating life's challenges, but 'too many' implies a character defined by manipulation and untrustworthiness, crossing a critical moral line.

Historical Social Judgment

The proverb reflects a social judgment from the 17th and 18th centuries, where 'shifts' or stratagems were necessary for navigating a complex society. A person with 'no shifts' was a helpless burden, while one with 'too many' was a 'shifty' or untrustworthy rogue who threatened social stability. The hyperbolic punishment of 'hanging' underscores the severe social condemnation of both incompetence and duplicity.

The Golden Mean

This proverb is a colloquial expression of the classical 'Golden Mean,' the philosophical concept championed by Aristotle that virtue lies in a middle path between two extremes of excess and deficiency. It translates a high-minded philosophical ideal into a practical, memorable piece of folk wisdom.

Psychology of Trust

Psychologically, the proverb speaks to the tension between admiration for competence and suspicion of manipulation. It captures the human desire for others to be resourceful enough to be reliable, but not so cunning that they become deceptive or exploitative. It defines the boundaries of acceptable cleverness within a community.

Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis

The proverb's structure is built on the direct contrast between 'no shifts' and 'too many', effectively highlighting the two condemned extremes and implying the virtue of the middle ground.

Parallelism

The repeated phrase 'Hang him that has...' creates a rhythmic and balanced structure, giving equal weight to the condemnation of both the helpless person and the deceitful one.

Hyperbole

The use of 'hang him' is a deliberate exaggeration to emphasize the severity of the social disapproval for these character flaws, making the proverb more impactful and memorable.

Paradox

The proverb presents a seeming contradiction by condemning both the absence and the excess of the same quality, forcing the listener to resolve the paradox by finding the virtuous middle path.