The belly (i.e. necessity) is the teacher of art and the liberal
bestower of wit.
[Lat., Magister artis read more

The belly (i.e. necessity) is the teacher of art and the liberal
bestower of wit.
[Lat., Magister artis ingenique largitor Venter.]

For I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly will
hardly mind anything else.

For I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly will
hardly mind anything else.

Thou say'st his meat was sauced with thy upbradings;
Unquiet meals make ill digestions;
Thereof the raging read more

Thou say'st his meat was sauced with thy upbradings;
Unquiet meals make ill digestions;
Thereof the raging fire of fever bred.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Better halfe a loafe than no bread.

Better halfe a loafe than no bread.

Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the todpole, the
wall-newt and the water; that in the read more

Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the todpole, the
wall-newt and the water; that in the fury of his heart, when the
foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets, swallows the old rat
and the ditch-dog, drinks the green mantle of the standing pool;
who is whipped from tithing to tithing, and stock-punished and
imprisoned; who hath had three suits to his back, six shirts to
his body,
Horse to ride, and weapon to wear,
But mice and rats, and such small deer,
Have been Tom's food for seven long year.

What baron or squire
Or knight of the shire
Lives half so well as a holy friar.

What baron or squire
Or knight of the shire
Lives half so well as a holy friar.

Bread is the staff of life.

Bread is the staff of life.

As long as I have fat turtle-doves, a fig of your lettuce, my
friend, and you may keep your read more

As long as I have fat turtle-doves, a fig of your lettuce, my
friend, and you may keep your shell-fish to yourself. I have no
wish to waste my appetite.