---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: piety is like garlic: a little goes a…"
description: "\"piety is like garlic: a little goes a long way.\" — Rita Mae Brown"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/rita-mae-brown-1111_garlic_piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-lon_1956308.png"
---

#  piety is like garlic: a little goes a long way.

![“piety is like garlic: a little goes a long way.” quote by Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/rita-mae-brown-1111_garlic_piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-lon_1956308.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/rita-mae-brown-1111_garlic_piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-lon_1956308.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/rita-mae-brown-1111_garlic_piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-lon_1956308.png)

> “piety is like garlic: a little goes a long way.”

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A small amount of piety, like garlic, is sufficient; excess is unnecessary.

**In simple terms:** A little reverence is enough.

Key Takeaway

Practice modest devotion.

Themes

moderation spirituality balance

Mood

calm thoughtful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily rituals
- worship
- personal growth

Key Concepts

religion personal practice

Questions to Reflect On

- How much reverence feels authentic to you?
- When does devotion become overbearing?

A Different Perspective

Too much piety can become pretentious.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piety/)

## Related quotes

> [I like anything with garlic in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-like-anything-with-garlic-in-it/)

[Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/)

> [If you like garlic, you'll like ramps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-chamberlin/if-you-like-garlic-you-ll-like-ramps/)

Jim Chamberlin

> [I use ginger like garlic. I love it for steaming fish and making barbecue sauces or roasted chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-douglas/i-use-ginger-like-garlic-i-love-it-for-steaming-fish-and-making/)

[Tom Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-douglas/)

> [“She didn’t trust people who didn’t like garlic, especially big fried pieces.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/she-didn-t-trust-people-who-didn-t-like-garlic-especially-big-fried/)

[Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/)

> [You can never have too much butter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/you-can-never-have-too-much-butter/)

[Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/)

> [“you can run out of garlic, you can't really run out of music”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jace-wayland/you-can-run-out-of-garlic-you-can-t-really-run-out-of-music/)

[Jace Wayland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jace-wayland/)

> [You can never have enough garlic. With enough garlic, you can eat The New York Times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/you-can-never-have-enough-garlic-with-enough-garlic-you-can-eat-the/)

[Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/)

> [Home-made bread rubbed with garlic and sprinkled with olive oil, shared-with a flask of wine-between working people, can be more convivial than any feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience-gray/home-made-bread-rubbed-with-garlic-and-sprinkled-with-olive-oil/)

Patience Gray

> [Danger is to adventure what garlic is to spaghetti sauce. Without it, you just end up with stewed tomatoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/danger-is-to-adventure-what-garlic-is-to-spaghetti-sauce-without-it/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [I use a lot of fresh citrus, garlic, and fresh herbs when cooking to cut down on fat and sodium but punch up flavor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/i-use-a-lot-of-fresh-citrus-garlic-and-fresh-herbs-when-cooking-to/)

[Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/)

> [My mother was making $135 a week, but she had resilience and imagination. She might take frozen vegetables, cook them with garlic, onion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mother-was-making-135-a-week-but-she-had-resilience-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I had the lunchbox that cleared the cafeteria. I was very unpopular in the early grades. Because I hung out with my grandfather, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-had-the-lunchbox-that-cleared-the-cafeteria-i-was-very-unpopular-in/)

[Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/)

> [“You think I can't get it up anymore, maybe? Lemme tell you, you eat enough garlic and it stands up every time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-vitale/you-think-i-can-t-get-it-up-anymore-maybe-lemme-tell-you-you-eat/)

Alberto Vitale

> [Our lives are full of stress. Some meditate, some walk, some sing and dance. Nature offers us garlic, maitake and hibiscus to relieve stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-pauli/our-lives-are-full-of-stress-some-meditate-some-walk-some-sing-and/)

[Gunter Pauli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-pauli/)

> [I have a trainer who comes three times a week and just listens to me moan... and I keep fit and keep moving... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-have-a-trainer-who-comes-three-times-a-week-and-just-listens-to-me/)

[Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/)

## More by Rita Mae Brown

> [“Friendship distills the sweetness of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/friendship-distills-the-sweetness-of-life/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/about-all-you-can-do-in-life-is-be-who-you-are-some-people-will-love/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [He tried to drown his troubles but they knew how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/he-tried-to-drown-his-troubles-but-they-knew-how-to-swim/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [“The most revolutionary thing you can do is to be yourself, to speak your truth, to open your arms to life including the pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/the-most-revolutionary-thing-you-can-do-is-to-be-yourself-to-speak/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [Content without style is propaganda or adolescence. Style without content is decadence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/content-without-style-is-propaganda-or-adolescence-style-without/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [Whenever I doubt the existence of God or the Goddess, I look at horses. Only God could have made a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/whenever-i-doubt-the-existence-of-god-or-the-goddess-i-look-at-horses/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [Language is decanted and shared. If only one person is left alive speaking a language - the case with some American Indian languages -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/language-is-decanted-and-shared-if-only-one-person-is-left-alive/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [“what would happen if she'd open her eyes and see only dark and feel satin from the coffin? That'd scare her enough to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/what-would-happen-if-she-d-open-her-eyes-and-see-only-dark-and-feel/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [“You know, it’s hell to work with a cat. They really are smarter than we are. Have you ever gotten anyone to feed you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/you-know-it-s-hell-to-work-with-a-cat-they-really-are-smarter-than-we/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [I don't want to die. I think death is a greatly overrated experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/i-don-t-want-to-die-i-think-death-is-a-greatly-overrated-experience/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [Leroy bet me I couldn't find a pot of gold at the end, and I told him that was a stupid bet because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/leroy-bet-me-i-couldn-t-find-a-pot-of-gold-at-the-end-and-i-told-him/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [An army of lovers shall not fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/an-army-of-lovers-shall-not-fail/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [Cats and dogs believe politicians are like cemetery caregivers; they are on top of everyone, but nobody listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/cats-and-dogs-believe-politicians-are-like-cemetery-caregivers-they/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [Femininity and masculinity are social constructs. Female and male are biological. We don't have to learn to be men or women but we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/femininity-and-masculinity-are-social-constructs-female-and-male-are/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/one-of-the-keys-to-happiness-is-a-bad-memory/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

[Explore all 290 Rita Mae Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

## More Garlic quotes

> [I have a trainer who comes three times a week and just listens to me moan... and I keep fit and keep moving... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-have-a-trainer-who-comes-three-times-a-week-and-just-listens-to-me/)

[Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/)

> [Our lives are full of stress. Some meditate, some walk, some sing and dance. Nature offers us garlic, maitake and hibiscus to relieve stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-pauli/our-lives-are-full-of-stress-some-meditate-some-walk-some-sing-and/)

[Gunter Pauli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-pauli/)

> [“You think I can't get it up anymore, maybe? Lemme tell you, you eat enough garlic and it stands up every time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-vitale/you-think-i-can-t-get-it-up-anymore-maybe-lemme-tell-you-you-eat/)

Alberto Vitale

> [I had the lunchbox that cleared the cafeteria. I was very unpopular in the early grades. Because I hung out with my grandfather, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-had-the-lunchbox-that-cleared-the-cafeteria-i-was-very-unpopular-in/)

[Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/)

> [My mother was making $135 a week, but she had resilience and imagination. She might take frozen vegetables, cook them with garlic, onion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mother-was-making-135-a-week-but-she-had-resilience-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I use a lot of fresh citrus, garlic, and fresh herbs when cooking to cut down on fat and sodium but punch up flavor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/i-use-a-lot-of-fresh-citrus-garlic-and-fresh-herbs-when-cooking-to/)

[Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/)

> [Danger is to adventure what garlic is to spaghetti sauce. Without it, you just end up with stewed tomatoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/danger-is-to-adventure-what-garlic-is-to-spaghetti-sauce-without-it/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Home-made bread rubbed with garlic and sprinkled with olive oil, shared-with a flask of wine-between working people, can be more convivial than any feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience-gray/home-made-bread-rubbed-with-garlic-and-sprinkled-with-olive-oil/)

Patience Gray

> [You can never have enough garlic. With enough garlic, you can eat The New York Times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley-safer/you-can-never-have-enough-garlic-with-enough-garlic-you-can-eat-the/)

[Morley Safer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley-safer/)

> [“you can run out of garlic, you can't really run out of music”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jace-wayland/you-can-run-out-of-garlic-you-can-t-really-run-out-of-music/)

[Jace Wayland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jace-wayland/)

> [You can never have too much butter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/you-can-never-have-too-much-butter/)

[Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/)

> [“1 clove garlic, chopped”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/editors-of-storey-publishing-s-country-wisdom-bulletins/1-clove-garlic-chopped/)

[Editors of Storey Publishing's Country Wisdom Bulletins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/editors-of-storey-publishing-s-country-wisdom-bulletins/)

> [Garlic bread, it's the future, I've tasted it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kay/garlic-bread-it-s-the-future-i-ve-tasted-it/)

[Peter Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kay/)

> [The only advice I can give to aspiring writers is don't do it unless you're willing to give your whole life to it. Red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/the-only-advice-i-can-give-to-aspiring-writers-is-don-t-do-it-unless/)

[Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/)

> [I do a chimichurri sauce with garlic, parsley, olive oil, and red and black pepper. You just mince the garlic and the parsley and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-gonzalo/i-do-a-chimichurri-sauce-with-garlic-parsley-olive-oil-and-red-and/)

[Julie Gonzalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-gonzalo/)

Browse all 150 Garlic quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "piety is like garlic: a little goes a long way.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rita Mae Brown"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-long-way/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Garlic"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-long-way/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/rita-mae-brown-1111_garlic_piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-lon_1956308.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/rita-mae-brown-1111_garlic_piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-lon_1956308.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/rita-mae-brown-1111_garlic_piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-lon_1956308.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“piety is like garlic: a little goes a long way.” — Rita Mae Brown",
                "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": "Rita Mae Brown",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "piety is like garlic: a little...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-long-way/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/piety-is-like-garlic-a-little-goes-a-long-way/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
