Eating and drinking takes away one's appetite.
Meaning: Indulging excessively in immediate pleasures dulls desire for future satisfaction and growth.
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.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- You cannot hide an eel in a sack. — Obvious truths inevitably reveal themselves despite attempts at concealment, just as a li…
- Rub your sore eye with your elbow. — Attempting the impossible wastes effort; some problems lack practical solutions.
- Give it plenty of elbow grease. — Sustained physical effort and hard work can overcome obstacles that seem intractable or r…
- That's but an empty purse that's full of other men's money. — Borrowed wealth brings no security; true richness comes from what you genuinely own.
- England is the Paradise of women. — Women historically enjoyed greater legal protections, property rights, and social freedom…
- Enough and to spare is too much. — Abundance beyond necessity breeds excess and waste, inviting trouble rather than security.
From our idioms
- faire dresser l’oreille — To catch someone's attention or spark their interest.
- renaître de ses cendres — To rise again and flourish after near-total destruction.
- se payer la tête de quelqu'un — To mock or ridicule someone.