--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truth will not afford sufficient food to…" description: "\"“Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken, themselves to errour. Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/samuel-johnson-50_error_truth-will-not-afford-sufficient-food-to_366366.png" --- # Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so… ![“Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken, themselves to errour. Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/samuel-johnson-50_error_truth-will-not-afford-sufficient-food-to_366366.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/samuel-johnson-50_error_truth-will-not-afford-sufficient-food-to_366366.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/samuel-johnson-50_error_truth-will-not-afford-sufficient-food-to_366366.png) > ““Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken, themselves to errour. Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.”” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People chase vanity, neglecting truth, which ultimately deprives them of sustenance. **In simple terms:** Vanity harms when truth is ignored. Key Takeaway Prioritize truth over superficial desires. Themes vanity truth morality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political discourse - personal decision‑making - education Key Concepts ethical philosophy human folly Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you ignoring for comfort? - How can truth be made appealing? A Different Perspective Truth alone may not satisfy basic needs without practical action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Error](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/error/) [Milk Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/milk-bull-2232975/) [Milk Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/milk-gone-519391/) [People Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-milk-2232976/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Sir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-sir-1857039/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) ## Related quotes > [Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/truth-sir-is-a-cow-which-will-yield-such-people-no-more-milk-and-so/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The King's cheese is half wasted in parings: But no matter, 'tis made of the people's milk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-king-s-cheese-is-half-wasted-in-parings-but-no-matter-tis-made-of/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“The truth is, sir...I require a rake. 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Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-o-brown/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. 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