Like hunger, physical love is a necessity. But man’s appetite for amour is never so regular or so sustained as his appetite for the delights of the table.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Everything I eat has been proved by some doctor or other to be a deadly poison, and everything I don’t eat has been proved to be indispensable or life. But I go marching on
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
We plan, we toil, we suffer – in the hope of what? A camel-load of idol’s eyes? The title deeds of Radio City? The empire of Asia? A trip to the moon? No, no, no, no. Simply to wake just in time to smell coffee and bacon and eggs.
—J. B. Priestley (1894–1984) English Novelist, Playwright, Critic
We are all dietetic sinners; only a small percent of what we eat nourishes us; the balance goes to waste and loss of energy.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
Condensed milk is wonderful. I don’t see how they can get a cow to sit down on those little cans.
—Fred Allen (1894–1956) American Humorist, Radio Personality
Some men are born to feast, and not to fight; Whose sluggish minds, e’en in fair honor’s field, Still on their dinner turn—Let such pot-boiling varlets stay at home, And wield a flesh-hook rather than a sword.
—Joanna Baillie (1762–1851) Scottish Playwright, Poet
You can say this for ready-mixes – the next generation isn’t going to have any trouble making pies exactly like mother used to make.
—Earl Wilson (1907–87) American Broadway Gossip Columnist
Most of us are either too thin to enjoy eating, or too fat to enjoy walking.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Clearly, some time ago makers and consumers of American junk food passed jointly through some kind of sensibility barrier in the endless quest for new taste sensations. Now they are a little like those desperate junkies who have tried every known drug and are finally reduced to mainlining toilet bowl cleanser in an effort to get still higher.
—Bill Bryson (1951–95) American Humorist, Author, Educator
After dinner sit a while, and after supper walk a mile.
—English Proverb
The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
We must eat to live, and not live to eat.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Soup and fish explain half the emotions of human life
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
A nickel’s worth of goulash beats a five dollar can of vitamines.
—Martin H. Fischer
Food probably has a very great influence on the condition of men. Wine exercises a more visible influence, food does it more slowly but perhaps just as surely. Who knows if a well-prepared soup was not responsible for the pneumatic pump or a poor one for a war?
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
There are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
If it weren’t for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the television, we’d still be eating frozen radio dinners.
—Johnny Carson (1925–2005) American Comedian
Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
—Unknown
Gluttony kills more than the sword.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Hunger is a good cook.
—Common Proverb
Most of the food allergies die under garlic and onion.
—Martin H. Fischer
The inventor of soda crackers has a place in hell.
—Martin H. Fischer
This is every cook’s opinion – no savory dish without an onion, but lest your kissing should be spoiled your onions must be fully boiled.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
An onion can make people cry, but there has never been a vegetable invented to make them laugh
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Custard: A detestable substance produced by a malevolent conspiracy of the hen, the cow, and the cook.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Worthless people live only to eat and drink; people of worth eat and drink only to live.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
All sorrows are good or are less with bread
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
A man seldom thinks with more earnestness of anything than he does of his dinner.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
I keep eating for fear I will be hungry.
—Mason Cooley (1927–2002) American Aphorist