Meaning & Analysis
Using the historical definition of 'meat' as any kind of food or sustenance, the proverb literally states that among all types of food, a beverage is the most easily and pleasantly consumed.
Insights
Ease and Immediate Gratification
The proverb champions simple, immediate pleasures. 'Drink' symbolizes effortless gratification, while 'meat' (solid food) represents more substantial but effortful experiences, suggesting a preference for what is easily enjoyed.
The Value of Social Lubricants
As 'drink' often implies alcoholic beverages, the proverb can be seen as a witty endorsement of social interaction and conviviality, suggesting that the fellowship facilitated by drinking is the most satisfying form of 'sustenance'.
A Nod to Indulgence
The proverb can be interpreted as a humorous expression of indulgence and a lighthearted approach to life. It prioritizes the simple, satisfying act of drinking over the necessity of eating, framing it as the ultimate form of consumption.
Linguistic and Historical Context
The proverb's humor hinges on the archaic meaning of 'meat' (from Old English 'mete'), which referred to all types of food, not just flesh. This linguistic context, clarified by Swift's 1738 variation 'vittles', is key to understanding the original wordplay that contrasts solid food with the ease of consuming liquid.
Celebration of Conviviality
Culturally, the proverb reflects a long-standing appreciation for drink as a social lubricant and a staple of conviviality, particularly evident in the tavern and feasting traditions of the periods from which the quotations are drawn. It serves as a lighthearted toast to simple, accessible pleasures.
Psychology of Pleasure
Psychologically, the saying taps into the human preference for immediate and effortless gratification. The phrase 'goes best down' viscerally captures the appeal of simple indulgence over the more complex and effortful process of eating, revealing a humorous, hedonistic perspective.
Rhetorical Devices
Wordplay (Pun)
The proverb's core stylistic feature is its pun on the word 'meat', leveraging its older, broader meaning of 'food' to create a clever and humorous paradox.
Hyperbole
The phrase 'Of all the MEAT in the world' is a dramatic overstatement that humorously elevates the simple pleasure of drinking to the highest form of worldly sustenance.
Idiomatic Language
The proverb uses a simple, colloquial phrase, 'goes best down', to create a vivid and relatable sensory image of ease and satisfaction.
Transcription
Quotations
Of all metes in the worlde that be, By this lyght I loue best drynke.
Of all Potage I love good Ale.
Of all Meat in the World, Drink goes the best down.
Of all vittles drink digests the quickest: give me a glass of wine.
Annotations
- A facetious Bull when we drink heartily after Meat.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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