--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one was irritable; we have never known…" description: "\"“No one was irritable; we have never known anyone to remain unhappy while digesting a good meal. We enjoy lingering in a becalmed state, a kind of midp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/honor-de-balzac-197_food_no-one-was-irritable-we-have-never-known_1015672.png" --- # No one was irritable; we have never known anyone to remain… ![“No one was irritable; we have never known anyone to remain unhappy while digesting a good meal. We enjoy lingering in a becalmed state, a kind of midpoint between the reverie of a thinker and the contentment of a cud-chewing animal, a state that should be termed the physical melancholy of…” quote by Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/honor-de-balzac-197_food_no-one-was-irritable-we-have-never-known_1015672.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/honor-de-balzac-197_food_no-one-was-irritable-we-have-never-known_1015672.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/honor-de-balzac-197_food_no-one-was-irritable-we-have-never-known_1015672.png) > ““No one was irritable; we have never known anyone to remain unhappy while digesting a good meal. We enjoy lingering in a becalmed state, a kind of midpoint between the reverie of a thinker and the contentment of a cud-chewing animal, a state that should be termed the physical melancholy of gastronomy.”” [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enjoying a good meal can induce a tranquil, contemplative state that blends intellectual reverie with simple contentment, a unique form of culinary melancholy. **In simple terms:** Eating well creates a calm, thoughtful mood. Key Takeaway Savor meals to nurture both mind and body. Themes food appreciation mindfulness contentment philosophy of pleasure Mood peaceful nostalgic thoughtful Type descriptive philosophical culinary When to use this quote - dinner parties - solo meals - travel dining - slow cooking Key Concepts gastronomy melancholy contemplation sensory experience Questions to Reflect On - What sensations does a favorite dish evoke? - How can mindful eating improve daily focus? A Different Perspective Over‑indulgence can lead to lethargy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) [Satiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satiation/) ## Related quotes > [“Man cannot spend all his time doing evil, and even in the company of pirates there must be some sweet moments on their sinister…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/man-cannot-spend-all-his-time-doing-evil-and-even-in-the-company-of/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The empty, the one, the unmoved, the full, satiation, wanting nothing--that would be my evil: in short, dreamless sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-empty-the-one-the-unmoved-the-full-satiation-wanting-nothing-that/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“phenomenon. For the child to feel full he must first feel empty, to feel helped the child must first feel in need of help,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-neufeld/phenomenon-for-the-child-to-feel-full-he-must-first-feel-empty-to/) [Gordon Neufeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-neufeld/) > [“Failure's sleeve cannot help but brush against the back of gratified desires and insatiability is inevitably left to gaze with smoldering eyes into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-walser/failure-s-sleeve-cannot-help-but-brush-against-the-back-of-gratified/) [Robert Walser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-walser/) > [Comics speak, without qualm or sophistication, to the innermost ears of the wishful self. The response is like that of a thirsty traveler who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-moulton-marston/comics-speak-without-qualm-or-sophistication-to-the-innermost-ears-of/) [William Moulton Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-moulton-marston/) > [Greedhas no satiation point, since its consummation does not fill the inner emptiness, boredom, loneliness, and depression it is meant to overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/greed-has-no-satiation-point-since-its-consummation-does-not-fill-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The fulfillment of desire does not necessarily make you happy because there is a satiation factor. You can get some apple pie and eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-fulfillment-of-desire-does-not-necessarily-make-you-happy-because/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Lovers should not separate from each other after making love without admiring each other, without being conquered as well as conquering, so that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/lovers-should-not-separate-from-each-other-after-making-love-without/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Happiness is not the same as pleasure. Pleasure is an immediate experience, very transient in nature, that's enjoyable, and if we experience a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/happiness-is-not-the-same-as-pleasure-pleasure-is-an-immediate/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“There is a great difference between satisfaction and satiation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-sherfey/there-is-a-great-difference-between-satisfaction-and-satiation/) Mary Jane Sherfey > [I can't get any satiation. My brain is wired in such a way that I - in my research, I probably have a lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/i-can-t-get-any-satiation-my-brain-is-wired-in-such-a-way-that-i-in/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [Satiation, like any state of vitality, always contains a degree of impudence, and that impudence emerges first and foremost when the sated man instructs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/satiation-like-any-state-of-vitality-always-contains-a-degree-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## More by Honoré de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honoré de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Food quotes > [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/) [Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You do know that right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ashworth/my-god-joseph-your-toasted-sandwiches-are-the-fucking-shit-you-do/) [Beth Ashworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ashworth/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“if you cannot control your hunger and appetite, good luck managing your blood chemistry, metabolism, waistline, and, in the bigger picture, the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/if-you-cannot-control-your-hunger-and-appetite-good-luck-managing/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [“Hungarian Proverb: A dish of cabbages can be heated when it grows cold, but it will never taste the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mourid-barghouti/hungarian-proverb-a-dish-of-cabbages-can-be-heated-when-it-grows-cold/) [Mourid Barghouti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mourid-barghouti/) > [“The phrase “low and slow” was coined to describe the relatively low temperatures used for smoking and the lengthy amount of time it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-reader/the-phrase-low-and-slow-was-coined-to-describe-the-relatively-low/) Ted Reader > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. 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