--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Three can eat as cheaply as two, the…" description: "\"“Three can eat as cheaply as two, the well-known arithmetic of resignation in any family where a child is expected, now one can say with even greater a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/jos-saramago-208_big-family_three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well_1469806.png" --- # Three can eat as cheaply as two, the well-known arithmetic… ![“Three can eat as cheaply as two, the well-known arithmetic of resignation in any family where a child is expected, now one can say with even greater authority, Ten million can eat as cheaply as five, and with a quiet smile, A nation is nothing but a great big family.” quote by Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/jos-saramago-208_big-family_three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well_1469806.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/jos-saramago-208_big-family_three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well_1469806.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/jos-saramago-208_big-family_three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well_1469806.png) > ““Three can eat as cheaply as two, the well-known arithmetic of resignation in any family where a child is expected, now one can say with even greater authority, Ten million can eat as cheaply as five, and with a quiet smile, A nation is nothing but a great big family.”” [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote likens a nation to a large family, suggesting that resources can be shared efficiently when many are involved, but also hints at the loss of individuality. **In simple terms:** A nation is like a big family sharing resources. Key Takeaway Recognize collective responsibility in society. Themes society economics family collectivism Mood reflective critical Type sociopolitical analytical When to use this quote - government policy - community planning - family budgeting - social welfare programs Key Concepts resource allocation social contract identity Questions to Reflect On - How does collective sharing affect personal freedom? - What balance between unity and individuality is healthy? A Different Perspective Large groups may suppress individual needs and voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-family/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) ## Related quotes > [We used to eat economically. One of the things that happened is that we lost the cultural skills that used to allow people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/we-used-to-eat-economically-one-of-the-things-that-happened-is-that/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [To be a great nation and a great people, you have to do great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/to-be-a-great-nation-and-a-great-people-you-have-to-do-great-things/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [Giving is what makes a nation great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/giving-is-what-makes-a-nation-great/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [There was never a nation great until it came to the knowledge that it had nowhere in the world to go for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-was-never-a-nation-great-until-it-came-to-the-knowledge-that-it/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [We, the people of the United States, we are a great Nation with a great vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buyer/we-the-people-of-the-united-states-we-are-a-great-nation-with-a-great/) [Steve Buyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buyer/) > [We infer the spirit of the nation in great measure from the language, which is a sort of monument, to which each forcible individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-infer-the-spirit-of-the-nation-in-great-measure-from-the-language/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No nation is so great as to be able to afford, in the long run, to remain outside an increasingly universal League of Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hjalmar-branting/no-nation-is-so-great-as-to-be-able-to-afford-in-the-long-run-to/) [Hjalmar Branting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hjalmar-branting/) > [There comes a time when the nation is great than an individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mwenda/there-comes-a-time-when-the-nation-is-great-than-an-individual/) James Mwenda > [“Blind patriotism on the part of its leaders and citizens, far from leading a nation to greatness, will only bring ruin, disgrace and misery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keat-peng-goh/blind-patriotism-on-the-part-of-its-leaders-and-citizens-far-from/) Keat Peng Goh > [Liberty is the great parent of science and of virtue; and a nation will be great in both in proportion as it is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/liberty-is-the-great-parent-of-science-and-of-virtue-and-a-nation/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Remember that our nation's first great leaders were also our first great scholars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/remember-that-our-nation-s-first-great-leaders-were-also-our-first/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [While the nation that has dared to be great, that has had the will and the power to change the destiny of the ages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/while-the-nation-that-has-dared-to-be-great-that-has-had-the-will-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [What we need now is a nation of great people who live to positively impact others and build enduring legacies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-need-now-is-a-nation-of-great-people-who-live-to-positively/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The English nation is never so great as in adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as-in-adversity/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [What makes a nation great is not primarily its great men, but the stature of its innumerable mediocre ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/what-makes-a-nation-great-is-not-primarily-its-great-men-but-the/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) ## More by Jose Saramago > [“We are born, and at that moment, it is as if we had signed a pact for the rest of our life, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/we-are-born-and-at-that-moment-it-is-as-if-we-had-signed-a-pact-for/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I am not a prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-am-not-a-prophet/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [With the passage of time, as well as the social evolution and genetic exchange, we ended up putting our conscience in the color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/with-the-passage-of-time-as-well-as-the-social-evolution-and-genetic/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Al día siguiente no murió nadie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/al-d-a-siguiente-no-muri-nadie/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“E se as histórias para crianças passassem a ser de leitura obrigatória para os adultos? Seriam eles capazes de aprender realmente o que há…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/e-se-as-hist-rias-para-crian-as-passassem-a-ser-de-leitura-obrigat/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [In a king, modesty would be a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/in-a-king-modesty-would-be-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“the inmates of the second ward in the right wing have decided, at long last, to bury their dead, at least we shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/the-inmates-of-the-second-ward-in-the-right-wing-have-decided-at-long/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Stretching one arm behind him, the man passed his hand over the horse's coat, his own skin transformed, or skin which had transformed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/stretching-one-arm-behind-him-the-man-passed-his-hand-over-the-horse/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I think we are blind. Blind people who can see, but do not see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-think-we-are-blind-blind-people-who-can-see-but-do-not-see/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [...you have to leave the island in order to see the island, that we can't see ourselves unless we become free of ourselves, Unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/you-have-to-leave-the-island-in-order-to-see-the-island-that-we-can-t/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [anyone who gets up early by inclination or has been forced to rise early out of necessity finds it intolerable that others should go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/anyone-who-gets-up-early-by-inclination-or-has-been-forced-to-rise/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Society has to change, but the political powers we have at the moment are not enough to effect this change. The whole democratic system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/society-has-to-change-but-the-political-powers-we-have-at-the-moment/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“... aborrece os odores nocturnos, aquelas expansões do corpo a que nem poetas escapam".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/aborrece-os-odores-nocturnos-aquelas-expans-es-do-corpo-a-que-nem/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) [Explore all 487 Jose Saramago quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## More Big family quotes > [Motor racing is like one big family, ultimately, and when you come back to it, that's really what it feels like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/motor-racing-is-like-one-big-family-ultimately-and-when-you-come-back/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [We may be separated into two groups, but really, we are one big family. We trained together, ate together and shared so many memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oh-se-hun/we-may-be-separated-into-two-groups-but-really-we-are-one-big-family/) Oh Se Hun > [We're a big family here at Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-doocy/we-re-a-big-family-here-at-fox/) [Steve Doocy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-doocy/) > [I think Man United is a big club, a big family, a big fan base, and I think they all stick together and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-wan-bissaka/i-think-man-united-is-a-big-club-a-big-family-a-big-fan-base-and-i/) [Aaron Wan-Bissaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-wan-bissaka/) > [I am a family person; we are a big family, and I need my friends around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-am-a-family-person-we-are-a-big-family-and-i-need-my-friends-around/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I look to my family for my support. I'm fortunate to have a big family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-o-donnell/i-look-to-my-family-for-my-support-i-m-fortunate-to-have-a-big-family/) [Chris O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-o-donnell/) > [I have a big family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ortega/i-have-a-big-family/) [Jenna Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ortega/) > [There are a lot of blessings from being a big family, but there's also a lot more work. My kids understand that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/there-are-a-lot-of-blessings-from-being-a-big-family-but-there-s-also/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [I have an extremely tight, extremely big family, and I love them so much it's almost painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/i-have-an-extremely-tight-extremely-big-family-and-i-love-them-so/) [Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/) > [What's so beautiful about Miami is that we support each other. We're just one big family, not just the entertainers, just everyone in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/what-s-so-beautiful-about-miami-is-that-we-support-each-other-we-re/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [“Well open up your mind and see like me Open up your plans and damn you're free Look into your heart and you'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/well-open-up-your-mind-and-see-like-me-open-up-your-plans-and-damn/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I'm the youngest of six kids, and when a you're living in such a big family, you never really become an adult, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kasher/i-m-the-youngest-of-six-kids-and-when-a-you-re-living-in-such-a-big/) Tim Kasher > [Now you are seeing electronic dance music producers on TV, on talk shows. It's so great to see the festivals growing bigger and bigger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-garrix/now-you-are-seeing-electronic-dance-music-producers-on-tv-on-talk/) [Martin Garrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-garrix/) > [I came from a big family, with not enough attention. It's classic. I wasn't the baby, but was second to last. It's absolutely the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/i-came-from-a-big-family-with-not-enough-attention-it-s-classic-i/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [I want to work with the big orchestras. I want to have a big family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-dudamel/i-want-to-work-with-the-big-orchestras-i-want-to-have-a-big-family/) [Gustavo Dudamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-dudamel/) [Browse all 231 Big family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Three can eat as cheaply as two, the well-known arithmetic of resignation in any family where a child is expected, now one can say with even greater authority, Ten million can eat as cheaply as five, and with a quiet smile, A nation is nothing but a great big family.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jose Saramago" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well-known-arithmetic-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big family" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well-known-arithmetic-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/jos-saramago-208_big-family_three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well_1469806.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/jos-saramago-208_big-family_three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well_1469806.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/jos-saramago-208_big-family_three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well_1469806.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Three can eat as cheaply as two, the well-known arithmetic of resignation in any family where a child is…” — Jose Saramago", "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": "Jose Saramago", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Three can eat as cheaply as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well-known-arithmetic-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/three-can-eat-as-cheaply-as-two-the-well-known-arithmetic-of/#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 } } ] } ```