I have clearly noticed that often I have one opinion when I lie down and another one when I stand up, especially when I have eaten little and when I am tired.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Soup is liquid comfort
—Unknown
It is the sign of a dull mind to dwell upon the cares of the body, to prolong exercise, eating and drinking, and other bodily functions. These things are best done by the way; all your attention must be given to the mind.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Those who forget the pasta are condemned to reheat it
—Unknown
It’s so beautifully arranged on the plate – you know someone’s fingers have been all over it.
—Julia Child (1912–2004) American Cook, Author
Always eat grapes downward – that is eat the best grapes first; in this way there will be none better left on the bunch, and each grape will seem good down to the last. If you eat the other way, you will not have a good grape in the lot.
—Samuel Butler
The whole of nature, as has been said, is a conjugation of the verb to eat, in the active and in the passive.
—William Motter Inge (1913–73) American Playwright, Novelist
Man is a carnivorous production, And must have meals, at least one meal a day; He cannot live, like woodcocks, upon suction, But, like the shark nd tiger, must have prey; Although his anatomical construction Bears vegetables, in a grumbling way, Your laboring people think beyond all uestion, Beef, veal, and mutton better for digestion.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
It takes great passion and great energy to do anything creative, especially in the theater. You have to care so much that you can’t sleep, you can’t eat, you can’t talk to people. It’s just got to be right. You can’t do it without that passion.
—Agnes de Mille (1905–93) American Dancer, Choreographer
Kissing don’t last; cookery do!
—George Meredith (1828–1909) British Novelist, Poet, Critic
We load up on oat bran in the morning so we’ll live forever. Then we spend the rest of the day living like there’s no tomorrow.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
A series of step-by-step instructions for preparing ingredients you forgot to buy, in utensils you don’t own, to make a dish the dog wouldn’t eat.
—Indian Proverb
And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.
—Doug Larson (1926–2017) American Columnist
He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
If you ate pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
—Unknown
And I find chopsticks frankly distressing. Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any umber of other useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven’t yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is o way to capture food?
—Bill Bryson (1951–95) American Humorist, Author, Educator
For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the hole stay of water.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God: and are ecome such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a abe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good nd evil.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
A nickel’s worth of goulash beats a five dollar can of vitamines.
—Martin H. Fischer
A woman should never be seen eating or drinking, unless it be lobster salad and Champagne, the only true feminine and becoming viands.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
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
Do not dig your grave with your own knife and fork.
—English Proverb
Taking food alone tends to make one hard and coarse. Those accustomed to it must lead a Spartan life if they are not to go downhill. Hermits have observed, if for only this reason, a frugal diet. For it is only in company that eating is done justice; food must be divided and distributed if it is to be well received.
—Walter Benjamin
He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
A good meal ought to begin with hunger.
—French Proverb
God comes to the hungry in the form of food.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The breakfast slimes, angel food cake, doughnuts and coffee, white bread and gravy cannot build an enduring nation.
—Martin H. Fischer
Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
—Unknown
After dinner sit a while, and after supper walk a mile.
—English Proverb
And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of ines on the lees well refined.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
We must eat to live, and not live to eat.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
You can travel fifty thousand miles in America without once tasting a piece of good bread.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Upscale people are fixated with food simply because they are now able to eat so much of it without getting fat, and the reason they don’t get fat is that they maintain a profligate level of calorie expenditure. The very same people whose evenings begin with melted goats cheese… get up at dawn to run, break for a mid-morning aerobics class, and watch the evening news while racing on a stationary bicycle.
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b.1941) American Social Critic, Essayist
A cherefull look makes a dish a feast.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
For much of the female half of the world, food is the first signal of our inferiority. It lets us know that our own families may consider female bodies to be less deserving, less needy, less valuable.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
A fruit is a vegetable with looks and money. Plus, if you let fruit rot, it turns into wine, something Brussels sprouts never do.
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
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
All sorrows are good or are less with bread
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Coffee should be black as Hell, strong as death, and sweet as love.
—Turkish Proverb
You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars.
—Charles Kuralt (1934–97) American Journalist, TV Personality
Fools make feasts and wise men eat ’em.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
It is a difficult matter to argue with the belly since it has no ears.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
The greatest delight the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable. I am not alone and unacknowledged. They nod to me and I to them.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
No man is lonely while eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
How can they say my life is not a success? Have I not for more than sixty years got enough to eat and escaped being eaten?
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile