--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who was the blundering idiot who said…" description: "\"Who was the blundering idiot who said 'fine words butter no parsnips'? Half the parsnips of society are served and rendered palatable with no other sau..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_fine_who-was-the-blundering-idiot-who-said-fi_2824907.jpg" --- # Who was the blundering idiot who said 'fine words butter… ![“Who was the blundering idiot who said 'fine words butter no parsnips'? Half the parsnips of society are served and rendered palatable with no other sauce.” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_fine_who-was-the-blundering-idiot-who-said-fi_2824907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_fine_who-was-the-blundering-idiot-who-said-fi_2824907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_fine_who-was-the-blundering-idiot-who-said-fi_2824907.jpg) > “Who was the blundering idiot who said 'fine words butter no parsnips'? Half the parsnips of society are served and rendered palatable with no other sauce.” [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fine words alone lack substance; society’s blandness needs flavor to become palatable. **In simple terms:** Words need substance. Key Takeaway Seek depth beyond rhetoric. Themes critical thinking society substance Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political discourse - media analysis - social gatherings Key Concepts Rhetoric cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - When are simple words effective? - How do you add depth to conversation? A Different Perspective May dismiss genuine simplicity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blundering Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blundering-idiot-3617080/) [Butter Parsnips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butter-parsnips-3617082/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Fine words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-words/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Idiot Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot-said-792581/) [Parsnips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parsnips/) [Parsnips Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parsnips-half-3617081/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sauce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sauce/) ## Related quotes > [There is a southern proverb - fine words butter no parsnips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/there-is-a-southern-proverb-fine-words-butter-no-parsnips/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“Dreams don’t butter the parsnips,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-moran/dreams-don-t-butter-the-parsnips/) [Johanna Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-moran/) > [“This...this...thing?" "A parsnip?" Jem suggested "A parsnip planted in satan's own garden," said Will. He glanced about. "I dont suppose there's a dog I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/this-this-thing-a-parsnip-jem-suggested-a-parsnip-planted-in-satan-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [What is this?” he went on now, spearing an unfortunate object on a fork and raising it to eye level. “This… this… thing?” “A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-is-this-he-went-on-now-spearing-an-unfortunate-object-on-a-fork/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“A darkened Sun would liberate us from the parsnip threat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/a-darkened-sun-would-liberate-us-from-the-parsnip-threat/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [The evidence from both approaches, statistical and experimental, does not appear sufficiently significant to me to warrant forsaking the pleasure of smoking. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-n-greene/the-evidence-from-both-approaches-statistical-and-experimental-does/) [Harry S.N. Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-n-greene/) > [I love root vegetables: carrots, parsnips, and turnips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-love-root-vegetables-carrots-parsnips-and-turnips/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [Simple,' Tummeler replied.' Blueberries is one of the great forces o'good in the world.' How do you figure that?' said Charles. Well,' said Tummeler,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-owen/simple-tummeler-replied-blueberries-is-one-of-the-great-forces-o-good/) [James A. Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-owen/) > [In entertainment value, the Democratic clambake usually lays it over the Republican conclave like ice cream over parsnips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-smith/in-entertainment-value-the-democratic-clambake-usually-lays-it-over/) [Red Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-smith/) > [I like food, I like stripping vegetables of their skins, I like to have a slim young parsnip under my knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/i-like-food-i-like-stripping-vegetables-of-their-skins-i-like-to-have/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [And that is ... how they are. So terribly physically all over one another. They pour themselves one over the other like so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/and-that-is-how-they-are-so-terribly-physically-all-over-one-another/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“She broke off, glaring at him—no doubt because he must be grinning like an idiot. “What?” she said. “What?” “On your head,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/she-broke-off-glaring-at-him-no-doubt-because-he-must-be-grinning/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [“That's what I thought" he said. "It doesn't change anything, Zinzi". He moved to kiss me, but as I tilted my head up, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-beukes/that-s-what-i-thought-he-said-it-doesn-t-change-anything-zinzi-he/) [Lauren Beukes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-beukes/) > [“You’re the light in all this madness. You’re my light. I should have been with you...” The thought hit him as his face crumpled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/you-re-the-light-in-all-this-madness-you-re-my-light-i-should-have/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [My character is self-important, poorly informed, well-intentioned but an idiot, ... So we said, 'Let's give him a promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/my-character-is-self-important-poorly-informed-well-intentioned-but/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) ## More by William Makepeace Thackeray > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/as-nature-made-every-man-with-a-nose-and-eyes-of-his-own-she-gave-him/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/it-is-best-to-love-wisely-no-doubt-but-to-love-foolishly-is-better/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Diffidence is a sort of false modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/diffidence-is-a-sort-of-false-modesty/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Our great thoughts, our great affections, the truths of our life, never leave us. Surely they can not separate from our consciousness, shall follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/our-great-thoughts-our-great-affections-the-truths-of-our-life-never/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Charming Alnaschar visions! it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/charming-alnaschar-visions-it-is-the-happy-privilege-of-youth-to/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [To see a young couple loving each other is no wonder; but to see an old couple loving each other is the best sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-see-a-young-couple-loving-each-other-is-no-wonder-but-to-see-an/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [An immense percentage of snobs, I believe, is to be found in every rank of this mortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/an-immense-percentage-of-snobs-i-believe-is-to-be-found-in-every-rank/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Vanity is often the unseen spur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-is-often-the-unseen-spur/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [A good laugh is sunshine in the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/a-good-laugh-is-sunshine-in-the-house/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Novelty has charms that our minds can hardly withstand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/novelty-has-charms-that-our-minds-can-hardly-withstand/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [“Picture to yourself, O fair young reader, a worldly, selfish, graceless, thankless, religionless old woman, writhing in pain and fear, and without her wig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/picture-to-yourself-o-fair-young-reader-a-worldly-selfish-graceless/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Certain opuscules, denominated 'Christmas Books,' with the ostensible intention of swelling the tide of exhilaration, or other expansive emotions, incident upon the exodus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/certain-opuscules-denominated-christmas-books-with-the-ostensible/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Explore all 384 William Makepeace Thackeray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## More Fine quotes > [ I\] k\[n\]ow youre b\[e\]tt\[e\]r off without me. \[D\]ont worr\[y\] ab\[o\]\[u\]t me. Im fine. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/i-k-n-ow-youre-b-e-tt-e-r-off-without-me-d-ont-worr-y-ab-o-u-t-me-im/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [To hurry through the rise and fall of a fine, full sentence is like defying the role of time in human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/to-hurry-through-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-fine-full-sentence-is-like/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The Germans will make a few scattered attacks, then go away. The Romans will enjoy a fine September.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-badoglio/the-germans-will-make-a-few-scattered-attacks-then-go-away-the-romans/) [Pietro Badoglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-badoglio/) > [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [But I saw the pain and sadness in everything, and swirled it round my mouth like a fine wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/but-i-saw-the-pain-and-sadness-in-everything-and-swirled-it-round-my/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [“I'm fine," said Pilar, "for the moment. And the moment is the only time we can be fine in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-m-fine-said-pilar-for-the-moment-and-the-moment-is-the-only-time-we/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [It's still possible to savor the remarkable foods that millennia of human ingenuity have teased from milk. A sip of milk itself or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-mcgee/it-s-still-possible-to-savor-the-remarkable-foods-that-millennia-of/) [Harold McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-mcgee/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [School plays are fine. Theater in school is fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/school-plays-are-fine-theater-in-school-is-fine/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) [Browse all 5,340 Fine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who was the blundering idiot who said 'fine words butter no parsnips'? 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