Meaning & Analysis
The proverb advises that one should heed a woman's initial, spontaneous advice on a matter but disregard any advice she offers after she has had time to think about it more deeply.
Insights
Intuition vs. Over-analysis
The 'first counsel' symbolizes pure intuition or instinct, which is presented as powerful and trustworthy. The 'second counsel' represents over-thinking, doubt, or the influence of social conditioning, which corrupts this initial clarity.
Primal vs. Deliberate Wisdom
It metaphorically separates two forms of wisdom: the immediate, almost primal insight ('first counsel') and the considered, logical conclusion ('second counsel'), arguing for the superiority of the former in women.
Gendered Value Judgment
The proverb serves as a backhanded compliment, acknowledging a form of female wisdom (intuition) while simultaneously undermining women's capacity for sound, logical reasoning and sustained intellectual engagement.
Historical Gender Stereotypes
The proverb reflects a historical gender stereotype that views female wisdom as intuitive and spontaneous rather than rational and deliberative. It simultaneously values and limits female counsel, suggesting its power lies in instinct, which is supposedly corrupted by subsequent logical thought.
Psychological Insight
This proverb taps into the psychological tension between intuition ('gut feeling') and deliberation ('second thought'). It champions intuitive judgment, a concept now explored in cognitive science, but frames it through a biased, gender-specific lens.
Cultural Bias
The advice reveals a cultural bias that compartmentalizes wisdom. By privileging a woman's 'first' thought, it subtly dismisses her capacity for sustained, reasoned analysis, thereby containing her influence to the realm of the immediate and non-rational.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb is built on the stark contrast between 'first' and 'second' counsel, creating a memorable and easily applicable rule of thumb.
Imperative Mood
The use of the command 'Take' gives the proverb an authoritative, prescriptive tone, framing it as a piece of direct, actionable advice rather than a mere observation.
Paradox
It functions as a paradox by suggesting that less thought can lead to better advice, challenging the conventional wisdom that deliberation improves judgment.
Transcription
Quotations
No remedie remaynde But onely womans witte, Which sodainly in queintest chance, Can best it selfe acquit.
Women do best when they least think on't.
A womans counsell is sometime good. Primo crede mulieris consilio, secundo noli.
Upon a sudden women are wise, and fools afterward.
Take thy wifes first counsel, not the second.
Take a womans first counsel.
A woman is wise on the sudden, and foolish upon deliberation.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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