APAD: No more cakes and ale?

Meaning:

    "Cakes and ale" are synonymous with the good life, like "beer and skittles."

 

Background:

 

   The word cake is often used as as a metaphor for `a good thing' - as in `take

   the cake' for example. The first use of cakes and ale with that allusion is

   Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, 1602:

 

     SIR TOBY BELCH:

     Out o' tune, sir: ye lie. Art any more than a steward? Dost thou think,

     because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?

 

- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I need help to understand Shakespeare but the phrase reminds me of an attitude

toward wealth and material comfort.

 

When Seneca was challenged about his immense riches (think of 和珅 or Warren

Buffett of the first-century Roman Empire) as unbefitting a Stoic, he replied

that piling up wealth was fine, even for a Stoic; it's a no-no, however, to

become attached to it. He said he could be stripped off everything and go in

exile the next day with the same tranquility as he had today. Lao Zi, who said

知其雄,守其雌, would've agreed. No more cakes and ale? Just the same, if not better.

所有跟帖: 

wish could upvote more with all fingers(個位) + toes (十位);-)) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 08:35:02

"為天下溪,常德不離"!!! "Happiness is not having what you want, -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 08:39:21

but wanting what you have." - wise words from someone ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 08:41:08

Thanks. These guys were more anti-capitalism than Marx. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 08:47:34

They would've been indifferent! -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 08:48:14

Nice writeup! Cakes contain much sugar, not a good thing,tho -暖冬cool夏- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:12:47

I like it too:) -暖冬cool夏- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:13:03

Yesterday, my boy brought me a cookie with 700cal packed in! -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:19:45

And I gained 2lbs this morning. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:20:21

;-)))))) that's real fast and very effective. :-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:28:35

maybe the scale ate some of that cookie too ;-)) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:30:31

That's scary. But I did let myself go last night :-) -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:33:40

Thank you! -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:21:45

是“麵包和啤酒”會有的意思嗎 -妖妖靈- 給 妖妖靈 發送悄悄話 妖妖靈 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:41:59

Yes, “麵包和啤酒.” 有沒有不管 :-) -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:44:39

哦,不對。是蛋糕! -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 04/17/2025 postreply 09:46:19

請您先登陸,再發跟帖!