--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...we are an overfed and undernourished…" description: "\"...we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth...\" — Ezra Taft Benson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/ezra-taft-benson-443_digging_we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nat_622236.png" --- # ...we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an… ![“...we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth...” quote by Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/ezra-taft-benson-443_digging_we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nat_622236.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/ezra-taft-benson-443_digging_we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nat_622236.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/ezra-taft-benson-443_digging_we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nat_622236.png) > “...we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth...” [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overindulgence and neglect of health lead a society toward self‑destruction, despite material abundance. **In simple terms:** Excess and poor health threaten a nation's future. Key Takeaway Promote balanced nutrition and healthy habits. Themes health society culture self‑destruction Mood concerned urgent Type social health. When to use this quote - education programs - policy advocacy - community wellness initiatives Key Concepts public health nutrition lifestyle choices Questions to Reflect On - How can societies shift from overconsumption to health? - What policies encourage sustainable nutrition? A Different Perspective Cultural habits can be hard to change despite evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) ## Related quotes > [To a significant degree, we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth, and lacking the energy that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/to-a-significant-degree-we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nation/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [We are all comatose. We are overfed and under...undernourished, yearning for something more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-i-lay-dying/we-are-all-comatose-we-are-overfed-and-under-undernourished-yearning/) As I Lay Dying > [“A diet based on quantity rather than quality has ushered a new creature onto the world stage: the human being who manages to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/a-diet-based-on-quantity-rather-than-quality-has-ushered-a-new/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [When one is overfed and another one is hungry, I call that a disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/when-one-is-overfed-and-another-one-is-hungry-i-call-that-a-disaster/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [I know that I've overfed myself trying to prop myself up because I'm exhausted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-know-that-i-ve-overfed-myself-trying-to-prop-myself-up-because-i-m/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [A girl at school once said to me, 'You are an overfed, under-washed farmhand.' I was 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/a-girl-at-school-once-said-to-me-you-are-an-overfed-under-washed/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [I just can't believe that there won't come a day when people won't be fed-up with being overfed. That they won't get fed-up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gudrun-ensslin/i-just-can-t-believe-that-there-won-t-come-a-day-when-people-won-t-be/) [Gudrun Ensslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gudrun-ensslin/) > [“Apparently they died from overfeeding. Apparently I overfed them. 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Sod the starving kiddies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/of-course-with-well-masticated-food-playing-the-role-of-social-glue/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [India unfortunately has the unenviable reputation of being the home to the largest number of undernourished children, women and men in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-swaminathan/india-unfortunately-has-the-unenviable-reputation-of-being-the-home/) [M. S. Swaminathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-swaminathan/) > [I believe many of us are overnourished on entertainment junk food and undernourished on the bread of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/i-believe-many-of-us-are-overnourished-on-entertainment-junk-food-and/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [“a system of domination will always be undernourished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/a-system-of-domination-will-always-be-undernourished/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## More by Ezra Taft Benson > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise, he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/every-latter-day-saint-should-make-the-study-of-this-book-a-lifetime/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Do not be caught up in materialism, one of the real plagues of our generation-that is, acquiring things, fast-paced living, and securing career success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/do-not-be-caught-up-in-materialism-one-of-the-real-plagues-of-our/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [The high cost of low living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-high-cost-of-low-living/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“We must each of us do our home work. 'My people are destroyed,' said Hosea, 'for lack of knowledge.' We must be wise as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/we-must-each-of-us-do-our-home-work-my-people-are-destroyed-said/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Man…need not stand alone. Prayer will open doors; prayer will remove barriers; prayer will ease pressures; prayer will give inner peace and comfort during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/man-need-not-stand-alone-prayer-will-open-doors-prayer-will-remove/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Humility does not mean weakness. It does not mean timidity. It does not mean fear. A man can be humble and fearless. A man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/humility-does-not-mean-weakness-it-does-not-mean-timidity-it-does-not/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-scriptures-record-remarkable-accounts-of-men-whose-lives-changed/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [That government is best which governs the least, so taught the courageous founders of this nation. 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I hope we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/someone-has-said-it-is-better-to-appreciate-the-things-you-don-t-own/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“In framing that great document which Gladstone declared ‘the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/in-framing-that-great-document-which-gladstone-declared-the-most/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/godly-sorrow-is-a-gift-of-the-spirit-it-is-a-deep-realization-that/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) [Explore all 556 Ezra Taft Benson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## More Digging quotes > [Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/some-people-are-like-ants-give-them-a-warm-day-and-a-piece-of-ground/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-archaeology-you-uncover-the-unknown-in-diplomacy-you-cover-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-thought-i-knew-a-lot-about-music-then-you-start-digging-and-the/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [From my image of digging around in the mud like a grunt, I preferred fighting the war from ships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haskell-wexler/from-my-image-of-digging-around-in-the-mud-like-a-grunt-i-preferred/) [Haskell Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haskell-wexler/) > [When you consider the sheer magnitude of investable equities to choose from in the world's emerging markets, you realize that finding one that looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mobius/when-you-consider-the-sheer-magnitude-of-investable-equities-to/) [Mark Mobius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mobius/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [ The Ancient One, as you know, is the master, is the Sorcerer Supreme, and \[Doctor\] Strange comes to learn how to heal himself and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/the-ancient-one-as-you-know-is-the-master-is-the-sorcerer-supreme-and/) [Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/) > [I wish I lived back in the Old West days, because I'd save up my money for about twenty years so I could buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-wish-i-lived-back-in-the-old-west-days-because-i-d-save-up-my-money/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [If you really want to be a good archaeologist, you have to understand ancient DNA; you have to understand chemical analysis to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parcak/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-good-archaeologist-you-have-to-understand/) [Sarah Parcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parcak/) > [I was a manual labourer. I figured out really early on that the value of my life could be determined by my hourly rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-was-a-manual-labourer-i-figured-out-really-early-on-that-the-value/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've never met a girl who thinks like you." "A lot of people tell me that," she said, digging at a cuticle. "But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-ve-never-met-a-girl-who-thinks-like-you-a-lot-of-people-tell-me/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [If you don't break a hole through the brick wall, don't just start digging a new hole. Keep going until you break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/if-you-don-t-break-a-hole-through-the-brick-wall-don-t-just-start/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Keep digging, Flynn. Six feet makes a grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/keep-digging-flynn-six-feet-makes-a-grave/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) Browse all 487 Digging quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "...we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ezra Taft Benson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nation-digging-an-early-grave/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Digging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nation-digging-an-early-grave/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/ezra-taft-benson-443_digging_we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nat_622236.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/ezra-taft-benson-443_digging_we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nat_622236.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/ezra-taft-benson-443_digging_we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nat_622236.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth...” — Ezra Taft Benson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ezra Taft Benson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "...we are an overfed and undernourished...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nation-digging-an-early-grave/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/we-are-an-overfed-and-undernourished-nation-digging-an-early-grave/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```