--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I am king they shall not have bread…" description: "\"When I am king they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books, for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/mark-twain-22_belly_when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread_2289955.png" --- # When I am king they shall not have bread and shelter only… ![“When I am king they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books, for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved.” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/mark-twain-22_belly_when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread_2289955.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/mark-twain-22_belly_when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread_2289955.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/mark-twain-22_belly_when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread_2289955.png) > “When I am king they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books, for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved.” [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes that intellectual nourishment outweighs material comfort alone. **In simple terms:** Mind matters more than food alone. Key Takeaway Prioritize learning. Themes education wellbeing values Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - teaching - personal development Key Concepts humanism intellectual growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance physical and mental needs? - What can you read today to feed your mind? A Different Perspective Neglecting physical needs can hinder learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belly/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-belly-5376397/) [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [King Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-shall-1833679/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Starved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-starved-5376398/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelter/) [Shelter Teachings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelter-teachings-5376399/) [Starved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starved/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [a fully belly is little worth where the mind is starved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-fully-belly-is-little-worth-where-the-mind-is-starved/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Life's not fair, isn't it? You see, I, on my end, will never be king...and you...shall never see the light of another day...Adieu... -Scar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-lion-king/life-s-not-fair-isn-t-it-you-see-i-on-my-end-will-never-be-king-and/) [The Lion King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-lion-king/) > [“Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor, for the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever, and the Dark Tower is thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sing-now-ye-people-of-the-tower-of-anor-for-the-realm-of-sauron-is/) [J.R.R. 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And a man shall be as an hiding place from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/behold-a-king-shall-reign-in-righteousness-and-princes-shall-rule-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The king shall lose no time when the opportunity waited for arrives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-king-shall-lose-no-time-when-the-opportunity-waited-for-arrives/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [And this is law, I will maintain, Until my dying day, Sir, That whatsoever king shall reign, I'll be the Vicar of Bray, Sir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-this-is-law-i-will-maintain-until-my-dying-day-sir-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When there was room on the ledge outside of the pots and boxes for a cat, the cat was there- in sunny weather- stretched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-there-was-room-on-the-ledge-outside-of-the-pots-and-boxes-for-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/we-are-drowning-in-information-but-starved-for-knowledge/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [“Can we go in to supper now?" she asked. "I'm starved. I hope they serve something other than lobster patties and caviar." He linked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/can-we-go-in-to-supper-now-she-asked-i-m-starved-i-hope-they-serve/) [Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/) > [“If love were food, I would have starved on the bones you gave me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-love-were-food-i-would-have-starved-on-the-bones-you-gave-me/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You left me. You made a pet out of me, and then you left me. If love were food, I would have starved on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-left-me-you-made-a-pet-out-of-me-and-then-you-left-me-if-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [And he misses her Like a wind starved sail He sits knowing what direction to go But the current keeps pulling him Down river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-he-misses-her-like-a-wind-starved-sail-he-sits-knowing-what/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More by Mark Twain > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“The Creator sat upon the throne, thinking. 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Nothing is above its reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-nothing-training-can-t-cannot-do-nothing-is-above-its-reach/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I never write Metropolis for seven cents because I can get the same price for city. I never write policeman because I can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-never-write-metropolis-for-seven-cents-because-i-can-get-the-same/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The higher animals get their teeth without pain or inconvenience. Man gets his through months and months of cruel torture; he will never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-higher-animals-get-their-teeth-without-pain-or-inconvenience-man/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“As far as I can see, Italy, for fifteen hundred years, has turned all her energies, all her finances, and all her industry to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/as-far-as-i-can-see-italy-for-fifteen-hundred-years-has-turned-all/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Begin with the determination to succeed and the work is half done already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/begin-with-the-determination-to-succeed-and-the-work-is-half-done/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Many public-school children seem to know only two dates—1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-public-school-children-seem-to-know-only-two-dates-1492-and-4th/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If we could imagine such a man, that is a man who could invent the fly and send him out on his mission and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-we-could-imagine-such-a-man-that-is-a-man-who-could-invent-the-fly/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [You perceive, now, that these things are all impossible except in a dream. You perceive that they are pure and puerile insanities, the silly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/you-perceive-now-that-these-things-are-all-impossible-except-in-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Lord save us all from a hope tree that has lost the faculty of putting out blossoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/lord-save-us-all-from-a-hope-tree-that-has-lost-the-faculty-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) [Explore all 3,277 Mark Twain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More Belly quotes > [I'm bigger than you! I'm higher on the food chain - get in my belly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/i-m-bigger-than-you-i-m-higher-on-the-food-chain-get-in-my-belly/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [I was the first to win a major with a belly putter, and I've spent hours practicing that way, so I hope they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/i-was-the-first-to-win-a-major-with-a-belly-putter-and-i-ve-spent/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [That devilish Iron Horse, whose ear-rending neigh is heard throughout the town, has muddied the Boiling Spring with his foot, and he it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-devilish-iron-horse-whose-ear-rending-neigh-is-heard-throughout/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I liked the taste of beer, its live, white lather, its brass-bright depths, the sudden world through the wet-brown walls of the glass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-liked-the-taste-of-beer-its-live-white-lather-its-brass-bright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [“Somewhere squidgy. Your belly, maybe?” “I can’t believe you called my belly ‘squidgy.’ It’s not squidgy, it’s pillowy. And sexy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-peeler/somewhere-squidgy-your-belly-maybe-i-can-t-believe-you-called-my/) [Nicole Peeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-peeler/) > [“That man’s so low he has to reach up to rub the belly of a snake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/that-man-s-so-low-he-has-to-reach-up-to-rub-the-belly-of-a-snake/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [We sat there, not talking, for a few minutes. He ate the Moon Pie; only skinny people can scarf down junk food like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/we-sat-there-not-talking-for-a-few-minutes-he-ate-the-moon-pie-only/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I get so nervous, I get belly pains before I go on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-get-so-nervous-i-get-belly-pains-before-i-go-on-stage/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [I can reason down or deny everything, except this perpetual Belly: feed he must and will, and I cannot make him respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-can-reason-down-or-deny-everything-except-this-perpetual-belly-feed/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've learned ballet for seven years and Kathak and belly dancing for some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-ve-learned-ballet-for-seven-years-and-kathak-and-belly-dancing-for/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [It's very important to not repeat yourself. After 'Delhi Belly,' I was offered 40 'Delhi Belly's and you can't do that! So 'Revolver Rani'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/it-s-very-important-to-not-repeat-yourself-after-delhi-belly-i-was/) [Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/) > [I asked these Indians: "Do men ever make Chicha?" My question was met with gales of laughter. The women howled. Bent over in hilarity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-d-eames/i-asked-these-indians-do-men-ever-make-chicha-my-question-was-met/) [Alan D. Eames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-d-eames/) > [Wit, like the Belly, if it be not fed, Will starve the Members, and distract the Head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wit-like-the-belly-if-it-be-not-fed-will-starve-the-members-and/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [After three years down here, I've not learned too much. 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Walking between the magnificent skyscrapers one feels the presence on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/the-city-of-new-york-is-like-an-enormous-citadel-a-modern-carcassonne/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) [Browse all 662 Belly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I am king they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books, for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Twain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread-and-shelter-only-but-also/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread-and-shelter-only-but-also/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/mark-twain-22_belly_when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread_2289955.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/mark-twain-22_belly_when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread_2289955.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/mark-twain-22_belly_when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread_2289955.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I am king they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books, for a full belly…” — Mark Twain", "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": "Mark Twain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I am king they shall...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread-and-shelter-only-but-also/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-i-am-king-they-shall-not-have-bread-and-shelter-only-but-also/#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 } } ] } ```