Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. (Francis Bacon)
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
Sources & notes
Listed on English Wikiquote “English proverbs” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. (Francis Bacon)” mean?
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. (Francis Bacon)” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.