Food Quote by Plutarch
““But more than this - not even, after your victims have been killed, will you eat them just as they are from the slaughter-house. You boil, roast, and altogether metamorphose them by fire and condiments. You entirely alter and disguise the murdered animal by use of ten thousand sweet herbs and spices, that your natural taste may be deceived and be prepared to take the unnatural food. A proper and witty rebuke was that of the Spartan who bought a fish and gave it to his cook to dress. When the latter asked for butter, and olive oil, and vinegar, he replied, 'Why, if I had all these things I should not have bought the fish!””
About This Quote
Source Book: Moralia, Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans, 2nd century AD
The passage critiques culinary excess that masks the true nature of meat, using a Spartan anecdote to illustrate the absurdity of over‑seasoning.
In simple terms: Over‑seasoned food hides the reality of meat.
Key Takeaway
Beware of disguising truth with excess.
Themes
culinary excess
truth
deception
culture
spartan wisdom
Mood
critical
ironic
reflective
Type
aphorist
cultural critique
When to use this quote
- dinner parties
- restaurant menus
- food criticism
- cultural commentary
Key Concepts
gastronomy
philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever mask unpleasant truths with embellishment?
- How does excess alter perception?
A Different Perspective
May distract from the underlying ethical concerns about animal consumption.
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