- English translation
If someone has heaped good on you, repay him with even more devotion, and pledge your children to his service as well.
- Literal wording
Whoever has given you more, give him more, and make your children his slaves.
- Meaning and lesson
The proverb teaches that generosity should be answered with more than a token thank-you. When a person has enriched your life, you owe them heightened faithfulness, devotion, and service in return, rather than repayment in money or goods.
Its second half pushes the obligation across generations, picturing a benefactor whose kindness is so great that even your offspring should remain bound to him. The talk of slaves is exaggeration for lasting devotion, not an endorsement of servitude.
- When it is used
Fits moments when someone urges gratitude toward a patron, employer, or relative whose generosity has been exceptional, extending the debt to one's household. The servitude imagery is hyperbolic and may sound harsh today, so it suits earnest or traditional speech rather than light banter.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: If someone has heaped good on you, repay him with even more devotion, and pledge your children to his service as well.