Meaning & Analysis
A physical injury or wound can be healed over time, but a bad reputation, once established, is permanent and cannot be repaired.
Insights
Intangible vs. Tangible Harm
The proverb metaphorically distinguishes between tangible, reparable harm and intangible, permanent damage. It posits that injuries to one's character and social standing are far more severe and lasting than any physical affliction.
The Permanence of Consequences
It serves as a potent warning about the enduring consequences of one's actions. While physical pain is temporary, the social consequences of a misdeed or a tarnished name can last a lifetime.
The Power of Slander
The proverb underscores the destructive and irreversible power of slander and gossip. Words can inflict a type of injury that never heals, unlike a physical wound that scars over.
Historical Importance of Honor
In historical contexts where honor and social standing were paramount for economic survival and social acceptance, this proverb captured a core truth. A damaged reputation could lead to complete ostracization, financial ruin, and loss of marital prospects, a fate far worse than a physical injury.
Digital Age Resonance
The proverb resonates powerfully in the digital age. An 'ill name' created by online slander, negative press, or a viral mistake can be permanently archived and accessible globally. This digital footprint is often impossible to erase, making a tarnished online reputation a modern equivalent of an incurable wound.
Psychology of Reputation
Psychologically, the proverb reflects the power of cognitive biases. Once a person's reputation is damaged, others are more likely to interpret their subsequent actions through a negative lens (confirmation bias), making it incredibly difficult to change perceptions and 'cure' the ill name.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb is built on the stark antithesis between the 'wound' that is 'cured' and the 'name' that is 'not', creating a powerful and memorable contrast that drives home the core message.
Parallelism
The balanced structure ('An ill... is cured, not an ill...') creates a rhythmic, parallel construction that makes the saying easy to remember and recite.
Symbolism
The 'wound' serves as a potent symbol for all forms of temporary, physical, or reparable setbacks, while the 'name' symbolizes one's entire social identity and legacy.
Transcription
Quotations
(An ill wound may be cured, not).
The evil wound is cured but not the evil Name.
[As in 1664 Cod.].
A Wound may be cured, when an ill Name cannot.
(is more easily cur'd than an ill Name).
Ill Wounds may be cured; but not ill Names.
An ill Wound, but not an ill Name, may be healed.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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