--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is got over the devil's back is…" description: "\"What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly.\" — John Heywood" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-heywood-3045_belly_what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spe_597836.png" --- # What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly. ![“What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly.” quote by John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-heywood-3045_belly_what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spe_597836.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-heywood-3045_belly_what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spe_597836.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-heywood-3045_belly_what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spe_597836.png) > “What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly.” [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enduring hardship often leads to a state of being humbled or subdued. **In simple terms:** Hardship can make you feel defeated. Key Takeaway Accept that struggles may lower you. Themes hardship humility resilience Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - financial loss - personal failure - health crisis - legal defeat Key Concepts proverb life lesson adversity Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from being humbled? - How do you recover after defeat? A Different Perspective May ignore the chance for growth after hardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belly/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Devil Spent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-spent-691044/) [Got Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-devil-741275/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Spent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spent/) [Spent Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spent-belly-691045/) ## Related quotes > [Isocrates was in the right to insinuate, in his elegant Greek expression, that what is got over the Devil's back is spent under his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-rene-lesage/isocrates-was-in-the-right-to-insinuate-in-his-elegant-greek/) [Alain-Rene Lesage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-rene-lesage/) > [“If you got the devil to pay, he'll want extra red-eye on his biscuit. He always do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-thornhorn/if-you-got-the-devil-to-pay-he-ll-want-extra-red-eye-on-his-biscuit/) [Randy Thornhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-thornhorn/) > [I got this devil in my mind and this angel in front of me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/i-got-this-devil-in-my-mind-and-this-angel-in-front-of-me/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koehler/you-ve-got-me-in-between-the-devil-and-the-deep-blue-sea/) [Ted Koehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koehler/) > [“When you've got the devil's own luck, you're immune from the usual run of disasters. Such people must be utilized.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-you-ve-got-the-devil-s-own-luck-you-re-immune-from-the-usual-run/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [You gotta stay on your P's and Q's. When you popping so hard, got these blessings coming down, you got the devil tryin' to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeoff/you-gotta-stay-on-your-p-s-and-q-s-when-you-popping-so-hard-got-these/) [Takeoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeoff/) > [And I flirted with the devil and he dealt me a card. He told me that you will never win. So I sold my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/and-i-flirted-with-the-devil-and-he-dealt-me-a-card-he-told-me-that/) [Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/) > [“You know, you got to get the devil out the house 'fore you can clean it up!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall/you-know-you-got-to-get-the-devil-out-the-house-fore-you-can-clean-it/) [Ron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall/) > [“Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself Upon thy wicked dam”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-poisonous-slave-got-by-the-devil-himself-upon-thy-wicked-dam/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I was the first to win a major with a belly putter, and I've spent hours practicing that way, so I hope they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/i-was-the-first-to-win-a-major-with-a-belly-putter-and-i-ve-spent/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [“That man’s so low he has to reach up to rub the belly of a snake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/that-man-s-so-low-he-has-to-reach-up-to-rub-the-belly-of-a-snake/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [“Somewhere squidgy. Your belly, maybe?” “I can’t believe you called my belly ‘squidgy.’ It’s not squidgy, it’s pillowy. And sexy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-peeler/somewhere-squidgy-your-belly-maybe-i-can-t-believe-you-called-my/) [Nicole Peeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-peeler/) > [I liked the taste of beer, its live, white lather, its brass-bright depths, the sudden world through the wet-brown walls of the glass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-liked-the-taste-of-beer-its-live-white-lather-its-brass-bright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [That devilish Iron Horse, whose ear-rending neigh is heard throughout the town, has muddied the Boiling Spring with his foot, and he it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-devilish-iron-horse-whose-ear-rending-neigh-is-heard-throughout/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm bigger than you! I'm higher on the food chain - get in my belly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/i-m-bigger-than-you-i-m-higher-on-the-food-chain-get-in-my-belly/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) ## More by John Heywood > [To give importance to trifling matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/to-give-importance-to-trifling-matters/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Little pitchers have big ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/little-pitchers-have-big-ears/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Who is so deaf or so blind as he that willfully will neither hear nor see?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/who-is-so-deaf-or-so-blind-as-he-that-willfully-will-neither-hear-nor/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Praie and shifte eche one for him selfe, as he can.Euery man for him selfe, and god for us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/praie-and-shifte-eche-one-for-him-selfe-as-he-can-euery-man-for-him/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [It is a poor dog that is not worth the whistling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/it-is-a-poor-dog-that-is-not-worth-the-whistling/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/if-you-will-call-your-troubles-experiences-and-remember-that-every/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [The nearer to the church, the further from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/the-nearer-to-the-church-the-further-from-god/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Might have gone further and have fared worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/might-have-gone-further-and-have-fared-worse/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [A day after the faire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/a-day-after-the-faire/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Feed by measure, and defy the physician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/feed-by-measure-and-defy-the-physician/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Better to be happy than wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/better-to-be-happy-than-wise/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [When the iron is hot, strike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/when-the-iron-is-hot-strike/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [There is no fyre without some smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/there-is-no-fyre-without-some-smoke/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Many hands make light work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/many-hands-make-light-work/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Prove your friend ere you have need, but in deed A friend is never known till a man have need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/prove-your-friend-ere-you-have-need-but-in-deed-a-friend-is-never/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) [Explore all 141 John Heywood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) ## More Belly quotes > [I'm bigger than you! I'm higher on the food chain - get in my belly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/i-m-bigger-than-you-i-m-higher-on-the-food-chain-get-in-my-belly/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [I was the first to win a major with a belly putter, and I've spent hours practicing that way, so I hope they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/i-was-the-first-to-win-a-major-with-a-belly-putter-and-i-ve-spent/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [That devilish Iron Horse, whose ear-rending neigh is heard throughout the town, has muddied the Boiling Spring with his foot, and he it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-devilish-iron-horse-whose-ear-rending-neigh-is-heard-throughout/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I liked the taste of beer, its live, white lather, its brass-bright depths, the sudden world through the wet-brown walls of the glass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-liked-the-taste-of-beer-its-live-white-lather-its-brass-bright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [“Somewhere squidgy. Your belly, maybe?” “I can’t believe you called my belly ‘squidgy.’ It’s not squidgy, it’s pillowy. And sexy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-peeler/somewhere-squidgy-your-belly-maybe-i-can-t-believe-you-called-my/) [Nicole Peeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-peeler/) > [“That man’s so low he has to reach up to rub the belly of a snake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/that-man-s-so-low-he-has-to-reach-up-to-rub-the-belly-of-a-snake/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [We sat there, not talking, for a few minutes. He ate the Moon Pie; only skinny people can scarf down junk food like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/we-sat-there-not-talking-for-a-few-minutes-he-ate-the-moon-pie-only/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I get so nervous, I get belly pains before I go on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-get-so-nervous-i-get-belly-pains-before-i-go-on-stage/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [I can reason down or deny everything, except this perpetual Belly: feed he must and will, and I cannot make him respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-can-reason-down-or-deny-everything-except-this-perpetual-belly-feed/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've learned ballet for seven years and Kathak and belly dancing for some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-ve-learned-ballet-for-seven-years-and-kathak-and-belly-dancing-for/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [It's very important to not repeat yourself. After 'Delhi Belly,' I was offered 40 'Delhi Belly's and you can't do that! So 'Revolver Rani'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/it-s-very-important-to-not-repeat-yourself-after-delhi-belly-i-was/) [Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/) > [I asked these Indians: "Do men ever make Chicha?" My question was met with gales of laughter. The women howled. Bent over in hilarity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-d-eames/i-asked-these-indians-do-men-ever-make-chicha-my-question-was-met/) [Alan D. Eames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-d-eames/) > [Wit, like the Belly, if it be not fed, Will starve the Members, and distract the Head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wit-like-the-belly-if-it-be-not-fed-will-starve-the-members-and/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [After three years down here, I've not learned too much. But one thing I do know is that our bellies aren't big enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-three-years-down-here-i-ve-not-learned-too-much-but-one-thing-i/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [The City of New York is like an enormous citadel, a modern Carcassonne. Walking between the magnificent skyscrapers one feels the presence on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/the-city-of-new-york-is-like-an-enormous-citadel-a-modern-carcassonne/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) [Browse all 662 Belly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Heywood" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spent-under-his-belly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spent-under-his-belly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-heywood-3045_belly_what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spe_597836.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-heywood-3045_belly_what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spe_597836.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-heywood-3045_belly_what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spe_597836.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly.” — John Heywood", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Heywood", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What is got over the devil's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spent-under-his-belly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/what-is-got-over-the-devil-s-back-is-spent-under-his-belly/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```