proverb · Source-linked selection
There never was a banquet so sumptuous but some one dined ill at it.
There never was a banquet so sumptuous but some one dined ill at it.
In print by 1857 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A generous occasion can still fail to meet someone’s needs. The impressive scale of an offering does not prove that every participant benefits from it.
What the words are saying
The banquet is sumptuous in general, yet one diner has a poor meal. The contrast separates an overall display of abundance from individual experience. Different requirements, unequal access or a missed detail may leave someone poorly served even when much has been provided. The practical response is to ask about the person’s needs rather than treating the event’s expense or reputation as proof of satisfaction. It also invites organisers to notice who was overlooked. The saying cannot establish why a particular diner fared badly without further information.
Everyday example
An event offers many dishes, but an organiser checks whether a guest with a dietary requirement has something they can safely eat.
When to use it
Use it when an overall success hides an unmet individual need.
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What it does not mean
No occasion can satisfy every preference perfectly. Distinguish reasonable accommodation from a promise that everyone will enjoy exactly the same experience.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (French-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1857 AD · industrial
In print by 1857: recorded in A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857) (1857 AD)
Printed page 25; French section, paragraph 496; source wording: Il n’est si riche festin, où il n’y ait quelqu’un qui mal dîne.
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.