A feast is not made of mushrooms only.
Meaning: Variety and balance are essential; no single element, however good, sustains a complete whole.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
Equivalents in Spanish
- Spanish: No se hacen las bodas de hongos á solas (literally: The wedding feast is not made with mushrooms only)
More proverbs about Wisdom
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- Feed sparingly, and defy the physician. — Moderate eating prevents illness, making medical intervention unnecessary.
- The fifer don't pay a fiddler. — A musician playing one instrument cannot compensate another musician for their work.
- Fiddler's fare; meat, drink, and money. — A fiddler's performance rewards him with sustenance, refreshment, and payment all at once.