Asks Quote by Denis Diderot
“This root [the potato], no matter how much you prepare it, is tasteless and floury. It cannot pass for an agreeable food, but it supplies a food sufficiently abundant and sufficiently healthy for men who ask only to sustain themselves. The potato is criticized with reason for being windy, but what matters windiness for the vigorous organisms of peasants and laborers?”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Diderot's Encyclopédie, 1751
The potato is nutritionally valuable but bland, unsuitable for refined tastes yet essential for the poor.
In simple terms: Potatoes are bland but vital for sustenance.
Value practicality over flavor.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- peasant diets
- military rations
- emergency food supplies
- budget cooking
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance nutrition and taste?
- Can bland foods become appealing?
Taste preferences can limit acceptance despite nutritional benefits.