proverb · Words worth keeping
It is just that the priest should live by the altar.
It is just that the priest should live by the altar.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
People doing a community’s work need a means of support. The altar represents the activity through which the priest serves and receives a livelihood.
Example
A community expects someone to coordinate weekly sessions, so it agrees reasonable expenses and a manageable workload rather than assuming unlimited unpaid time.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The proverb links a role’s responsibilities with the support required to carry them out. Its religious image can be read more broadly as a claim that useful labour should not be expected indefinitely without provision for the worker. An arrangement should make clear what service is offered, what support is available and what accountability accompanies it. The saying does not establish a particular religious entitlement or set a price. It raises the practical question of how a role can remain sustainable for the person performing it.
When to use it
Use it when discussing fair support for continuing work.
Keep in mind
Support does not excuse misconduct or remove accountability. Some voluntary work is freely chosen; the terms should be explicit and fair.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (French-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown