Bachelorhood
Oct. 13th, 2008 03:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pjthompsonRandom quote of the day:
"A bachelor's life is a fine breakfast, a flat lunch, and a miserable dinner."
—Jean de la Bruyère (1645-1696)
This quote has been widely—and incorrectly, I believe—attributed to Sir Francis Bacon (and in at least one case, Kevin Bacon). I know for a fact that Sir Francis Bacon said about bachelors:
"Certainly the best work, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men." (Essays, Civil and Moral, Ch. VIII, Of Marriage and Single Life)
(But even this isn't as cut and dried as this excerpted quote would make it sound.)
Since this quote and the Bruyère quote appeared side by side in at least two prominent quote books, I think that may be where the misattribution arose. Alas, I can't find a source for the Bruyère quote. As always, if anyone out there knows the source of this unsourced quote, I'd love to hear from you.
"A bachelor's life is a fine breakfast, a flat lunch, and a miserable dinner."
—Jean de la Bruyère (1645-1696)
This quote has been widely—and incorrectly, I believe—attributed to Sir Francis Bacon (and in at least one case, Kevin Bacon). I know for a fact that Sir Francis Bacon said about bachelors:
"Certainly the best work, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men." (Essays, Civil and Moral, Ch. VIII, Of Marriage and Single Life)
(But even this isn't as cut and dried as this excerpted quote would make it sound.)
Since this quote and the Bruyère quote appeared side by side in at least two prominent quote books, I think that may be where the misattribution arose. Alas, I can't find a source for the Bruyère quote. As always, if anyone out there knows the source of this unsourced quote, I'd love to hear from you.
