Meaning & Analysis
Having a sufficient amount of something provides the same level of satisfaction and value as having an abundant or celebratory quantity.
Insights
The Virtue of Moderation
The proverb champions the virtue of moderation, suggesting that true satisfaction is found not in endless accumulation (a feast) but in recognizing and appreciating when one's needs are met (enough).
Redefining Fulfillment
It reframes the concept of 'enough' from a state of mere adequacy to one of ideal fulfillment. This challenges the common assumption that more is always better, suggesting that sufficiency itself is a goal to be celebrated.
Pragmatic Wisdom
The saying offers a pragmatic guide to life, advising that the pursuit of extravagance is often an inefficient and unnecessary use of energy and resources. Wisdom lies in recognizing the point of sufficiency and not striving wastefully beyond it.
Classical Philosophical Roots
The proverb's use of the Latin phrase 'Satis est quod sufficit' in historical sources, including Shakespeare, links it to classical Stoic and Epicurean philosophies that championed moderation and contentment over excessive desire, lending it an enduring intellectual authority.
Psychology of Contentment
In a world that often equates happiness with accumulation, the proverb serves as a powerful psychological corrective. It challenges the 'hedonic treadmill'—the endless pursuit of more—by reframing sufficiency not as a compromise, but as a desirable and fulfilling state equivalent to abundance.
Critique of Excess
The proverb offers a timeless critique of consumerism and waste. By elevating 'enough' to the status of a 'feast', it implicitly warns against the folly of extravagance and promotes a more sustainable and mindful approach to resources.
Rhetorical Devices
Simile
The proverb is built on a direct simile ('as good as') that equates two dissimilar concepts—sufficiency and abundance—to powerfully argue for the value of moderation.
Paradox
The statement contains a paradoxical quality, as a 'feast' is by definition more than 'enough'. This intentional contradiction grabs attention and forces reflection on the nature of satisfaction.
Balanced Phrasing
The phrase is constructed with a simple, balanced rhythm and uses common, mostly monosyllabic words, making it concise, memorable, and impactful.
Transcription
Quotations
As good ynough as a feast.
(Enough were as).
(Inough they say, is).
Inough is as good as a feast; or, too much of any thing is good for nothing.
Enough is a Feast.
According to the Rule, Satis est quod sufficit, Enough is as good as a Feast.
(The English say, Enough).
Shakespeare Citations
Satis quod sufficit.
Cross References
- See DÜR., I, no. 576.
- E159 Enough is enough
- T158 Too much of one thing is good for nothing.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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