One of the philosophers forbade his son to eat much because repletion keeps people ailing. The boy replied: ‘O father, it is hunger that kills. Hast thou not heard of the maxim of the ingenious that it is better to die satiated than to bear hunger?’ He rejoined: ‘Be moderate. Eat and drink but not to excess.’ <br /> <br /> Eat not so much that it comes up to thy mouth <br /> Nor so little that from weakness thy soul comes up. <br /> Although maintenance of life depends upon food <br /> Victuals bring on disease when eaten to excess. <br /> If thou eatest rose-confectionery without appetite it injures thee <br /> But eating dry bread after a long fast is like rose-preserve<br /><br />Saadi Shirazi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ch-03-on-the-excellence-of-contentment-story-08/
