--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly…" description: "\"There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly said, ''Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.\" — Alexander Pope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/alexander-pope-235_bed_there-goes-a-saying-and-twas-shrewdly-sa_195488.png" --- # There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly said, ''Old fish… ![“There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly said, ''Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/alexander-pope-235_bed_there-goes-a-saying-and-twas-shrewdly-sa_195488.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/alexander-pope-235_bed_there-goes-a-saying-and-twas-shrewdly-sa_195488.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/alexander-pope-235_bed_there-goes-a-saying-and-twas-shrewdly-sa_195488.png) > “There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly said, ''Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He uses a witty proverb to warn against youthful indiscretion and the lure of new pleasures. **In simple terms:** Beware of youthful temptations. Key Takeaway Consider the consequences of impulsive choices. Themes wisdom temptation age morality Mood cautionary witty Type moral literary When to use this quote - Courtship - career moves - financial decisions Key Concepts Satire proverb social commentary Questions to Reflect On - What “young flesh” temptations have you faced? - How can experience guide better decisions? A Different Perspective Proverb may oversimplify complex situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) ## Related quotes > [In the ambiguity and shifting playing field of adult life, I often wish I could just fill in a dot and have someone say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-delaney/in-the-ambiguity-and-shifting-playing-field-of-adult-life-i-often/) [Rob Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-delaney/) > [I call it an old-fashioned seafood house for the new millennium. We are trying to update what we know as old fish houses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-english/i-call-it-an-old-fashioned-seafood-house-for-the-new-millennium-we/) [Todd English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-english/) > [We were staring at the origin of a piece of our own bodies inside this 375-million-year-old fish. We had a fish with a wrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/we-were-staring-at-the-origin-of-a-piece-of-our-own-bodies-inside/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [A sly old fish, too cunning for the hook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/a-sly-old-fish-too-cunning-for-the-hook/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [A 24 year boy seeing out from the train window, shouted, Dad, look the trees are going behind! Dad smiled and a young couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-24-year-boy-seeing-out-from-the-train-window-shouted-dad-look-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There was an obvious display of blatant sexism when I couldn't get signed. They didn't say I was ugly. They didn't say that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/there-was-an-obvious-display-of-blatant-sexism-when-i-couldn-t-get/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [“You’re on Facebook, Uncle Reid?” Athens asked. “Of course he is,” Liliana said. “That’s where all the old people go to waste their time.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-rochon/you-re-on-facebook-uncle-reid-athens-asked-of-course-he-is-liliana/) [Farrah Rochon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-rochon/) > [I'm sure people in the business have said: She's too old for that part. I don't hear about it because your agent protects you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-kendal/i-m-sure-people-in-the-business-have-said-she-s-too-old-for-that-part/) [Felicity Kendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-kendal/) > [“How did it die?" he asked. "Short circuit," I said. "Old and frayed wires." He looked at me like I was senile. "Could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-messinger/how-did-it-die-he-asked-short-circuit-i-said-old-and-frayed-wires-he/) [Jonathan Messinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-messinger/) > [“But unless we determine to take action,' said the old man querulously, as if struggling against something deeply insouciant in his nature, 'then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/but-unless-we-determine-to-take-action-said-the-old-man-querulously/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Lost ye way in the dark, said the old man. He stirred the fire, standing slender tusks of bone up out of the ashes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/lost-ye-way-in-the-dark-said-the-old-man-he-stirred-the-fire-standing/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [I'm not putting them on,” said old Archie in indignation. “I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-putting-them-on-said-old-archie-in-indignation-i-like-a/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“If,' Roland said. 'An old teacher of mine used to call it the only word a thousand letters long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/if-roland-said-an-old-teacher-of-mine-used-to-call-it-the-only-word-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You think people was meaner then than they are now? the deputy said. The old man was looking out at the flooded town. No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-think-people-was-meaner-then-than-they-are-now-the-deputy-said/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Bed quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Your idea of fidelity is not having more than one man in bed at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/your-idea-of-fidelity-is-not-having-more-than-one-man-in-bed-at-the/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish I had as much in bed as I get in the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-wish-i-had-as-much-in-bed-as-i-get-in-the-newspapers/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [I have to meditate before I go to bed, always. I have to let the day go and let the eternal in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bellamy-young/i-have-to-meditate-before-i-go-to-bed-always-i-have-to-let-the-day-go/) [Bellamy Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bellamy-young/) > [Sometimes by a woodland stream he watched the water rush over the pebbled bed, its tiny modulations of bounce and flow. 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