John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
8777 Plutarh AD 46?-AD 120 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 8777 |
| AUTHOR: | Plutarch (A.D. 46?–A.D. c. 120) |
| QUOTATION: | It is a difficult task, O citizens, to make speeches to the belly, which has no ears. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Life of Marcus Cato. |
| Note 1. The belly has no ears, nor is it to be filled with fair words.—Francis Rabelais: book iv. chap. lxvii. [back] |