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We may live without conscience, and live without heart:

We may live without friends; we may live without books;

But civilized man can not live without cooks.

He may live without books—what is knowledge but grieving?

He may live without hope—what is hope but deceiving?

He may live without love—what is passion but pining?

But where is the man that can live without dining?

Earl of Lytton, “Owen Meredith” (1831-1891) (Lucile).

“A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said,

“Is what we chiefly need:

Pepper and vinegar besides

Are very good indeed—

Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear,

We can begin to feed.”

Lewis Carroll (The Walrus and the Carpenter).

That all-softening, overpowering knell,

The tocsin of the soul—the dinner bell.

Byron (Don Juan).

First of the first,

Such I pronounce Pompilia, then as now

Perfect in whiteness: stoop thou down, my child..

My rose, I gather for the breast of God..

And surely not so very much apart,

Need I place thee, my warrior-priest..

In thought, word and deed,

How throughout all thy warfare thou wast pure,