proverb · Words worth keeping
What one man despises, another craves.
What one man despises, another craves.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
What one person rejects may be exactly what another wants. The saying highlights differences in preference and circumstances, without proving that every unwanted thing is useful or every desire is well considered.
Example
A group no longer needs a small display stand, but another club asks for it because its limited room suits that size; they confirm its condition before arranging the handover.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Despises and craves give opposite responses to the same thing. The contrast can explain why people make different choices without requiring either response to be universal. A resource may fit one person’s purpose and be unsuitable for another; taste, needs and arrangements can differ. The useful reading asks what each person wants and why the particular thing fits. Difference is not enough to establish quality, safety or fairness, and an exchange still needs clear agreement. The proverb encourages curiosity about preferences rather than assuming that one person’s rejection settles the value for everyone else.
When to use it
Use it when differing needs or preferences explain opposite assessments of the same thing.
Keep in mind
Suitability and condition still need checking; desire alone does not establish value.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their 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
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English