On offended carry water. This proverb sounds like a formidable warning of an impending punishment for anger directed inward and towards others. Offended seldom cause sympathy, but why, nevertheless, do not plow them, do not encourage them to cut down the forest, namely, carry water? And why should they be subjected to such punishment, and not the owners of other condemned qualities: laziness, greed or envy, for example? Let's try to answer these questions in our article.
What does a proverb sound by V. and Dahl
In the dictionary of an outstanding lexicographer instead of "offended" the word "angry" is used, in addition, the proverb has a continuation: "on a stubborn horse." This ending emphasizes the unsuccessful delivery of water using this vehicle. After all, usually for such work used ravenous, hardy animals that were old for such hard work. Russian writers in their works compared humility with water nags.
Where did the expression come from: "They carry water to the offended?" Initially, it was all about angry people who were not warned of some kind of higher retaliation, but were given advice –– to recall the norms of Christian morality, to extinguish their own anger, and to pour it with splashing water. This is evidenced by the St. Petersburg Museum of the World of Water, where a historical fact is given: angry water carriers were fined and forced to carry water for free.
Modification of the proverb
How did the proverb: “They carry water to the offended”? At first, the said statement was reduced to the phrase “carry water”, which meant “burdening a person with humiliating and extremely hard work, exploiting him, using kindness and complaisant character”. The object did not possess negative traits, on the contrary, a kind and working person usually carries everything on himself and is lucky. In this case, water.
Then the statement began to be applied to a person who has excellent physical health, but at the same time works half-heartedly: "Yes, you can carry water on you!" Statements arose where a subject appears to direct the process. Most often these were the servants of hell: "The devils carry water on it!"
If we return to the original version proposed by V. I. Dahl, the proverb was often applied to those who were angry without reason. A synonym for the word "angry" were the words "inflated", "offended." The latter has increasingly been used independently. Attention should be paid to the fact that not the “touchy" or "offended" options are used. The use of an adjective or real participle would be more justified, but the phrase “passive participle” sounds. It is a question of whom they offended.
Many researchers believe that this can be explained by the process of lingo language. In prisons, the despised "lowered" criminals were called offended, who, like the lower caste, only carry water, that is, engage in hard and humiliating labor.
Bit of theory
There are other versions of the explanation of what they do with offended ones. The saying is of interest to many researchers. In order to understand this, you need to familiarize yourself with the concept of "resentment." What is it and why do people not support the offended, that is, those who are upset. It is obvious to everyone that this is an emotion that manifests itself as a reaction to failed expectations. Not always behind its occurrence is a conscious insult or desire to inflict damage on the part of the offender.
The negative emotion arising from the offended person has a destructive energy directed at the object of the offense - at the real person, at God, at fate or himself. The main reasons for its occurrence are only two:
- blaming others for their own failures;
- overestimated exactingness to them, while underestimated - to themselves.
Pride and arrogance, feelings condemned by religion and people, are at the heart of a particular person’s resentment. It is important to recognize this in order to interpret statements that state what is being done to offended ones.
Version of the origin of the proverb in the times of Peter
At the beginning of the 18th century, water was transported using water trucks. This was a respected position, to which was attached a horse with a cart and other equipment. The water was transported in barrels of different colors, each of them was intended for liquids from different sources: for drinking, domestic needs and so on. There were dodgers who did not want to travel far and gave out industrial water as suitable for eating. And during the period of drought, they completely paid for their services.
Peter I was angry when rumors of this reached the imperial court. He passed a law punishing the wicked. Caught in the deception, the water carriers were forced to deliver water all day instead of the horse, which was hauled out of the wagon. If a person complied with the requirement, they retained his position and returned the horse. If not, then he was left without work. Therefore, water carriers were offended by such a decree, but they delivered water. Losing a job was worse. So the saying appeared: "They carry water to the offended."
Proverbial Story: Other Versions
The second option also applies to water carriers. Horses for work were chosen from those that were no longer suitable for military operations, the transport of people, etc. As a rule, these were old geldings that had long since burned out of their own. Such horses moved slowly, their head was lowered. Over the years, they studied their route so that the water carrier did not even have to pull the reins.
In appearance, the horse looked like a resentful or tired person. And once she raced, competing in speed with a gust of wind, and she herself could hurt anyone. It could be compared to fire. Therefore, in a statement in ancient sources, you can see the continuation of the phrase that fire is carried on offenders.
What to do with offended: other options
This version is based on an understanding of what is happening with the person. Embracing the aggrieved excitement, anger, aggression towards the offender and self-pity make him predictable to others. It is easy to manipulate such a person, that is, push him to actions that he would not be able to in an adequate state. Human emotions allow you to use it for selfish purposes, even to carry water on your back. Caught in the grip of negative feelings, he won’t even notice it.
What are they doing with the offended? We could answer much more widely than in the proverb described: they use it for their own purposes. For example, an employee who is offended by a boss can be easily encouraged to take actions that harm the company or him personally. This is often used by competitors. History knows the movement of Luddites (beginning of the 19th century), organizing pogroms of factories and plants. Workers were convinced that machines were driving them out of production. It was also in the hands of small entrepreneurs and competitors, warming up the movement.
