A black hen lays a white egg.
Meaning and origin
The two proverbs ‘Black cows also give white milk’ and ‘A black hen lays a white eggs’ have a similar meaning and are intended to emphasise that external appearances and prejudices do not always correspond to reality. They are intended to point out that one should not make hasty judgements and that supposedly unusual or unexpected things are also possible.
The origin of these proverbs is not exactly known, but they are widespread in various cultures and languages. They probably originate from a time when people had a lot to do with agriculture and therefore understood such metaphors well. Nowadays, they are often used to emphasise tolerance, openness and overcoming prejudices.
Proverbs on a similar topic
- Make a pair.
- A man is known by his friends.
- Six of one and half a dozen of the other.
- See which way the wind is blowing.
- Jack is as good as his master.
- Like will to like.
- The house shows the owner.
- All tarred with the same brush.
- So many countries, so many customs.
- Like master, like man.
- Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.
- When you are an anvil, hold you Still; when you are a hammer, strike your fill.
- When at Rome do as the Romans do.
- Like question, like answer.
- A little bird is content with a little nest.
- He loves me well that makes my belly swell.
- One mule scrubs another.