eat to live, not live to eat
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
It is best not to be gluttonous; eating shouldn't be one's favorite activity, but one should eat only to supply health.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Balance can be used to heighten matched pairs of ideas, as in the maxim "one should eat to live, not live to eat."
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “eat to live, not live to eat” mean?
It is best not to be gluttonous; eating shouldn't be one's favorite activity, but one should eat only to supply health.
Is “eat to live, not live to eat” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.