proverb · Source-linked selection
A little house well fill'd, A little land well till'd, And a little wife well will'd.
A little house well fill'd, A little land well till'd, And a little wife well will'd.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying values a modest home and land that are well used, alongside a wife described as willing. Its praise of sufficiency includes a gendered expectation that needs critical attention.
What the words are saying
Well fill’d and well till’d put use and care ahead of size. That insight can support making good use of modest resources. The final pairing treats a wife as another desirable household feature; a responsible reading instead recognises a partner’s independent wishes and equal standing. A home’s adequacy cannot be reduced to possessions or another person’s compliance.
Everyday example
Partners make a small home work for their shared needs while discussing responsibilities on equal terms.
When to use it
Use it to discuss modest provision while questioning its gendered framing.
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What it does not mean
The wife is not a household possession, and willingness cannot be presumed or demanded.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 976 · Little house
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English