To him that hath lost his taste, sweet is sour.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

The saying makes sweetness seem sour to someone whose taste is lost. It contrasts a thing’s usual description with an observer’s altered experience.

What the words are saying

Sweet and sour turn a change in perception into opposites. As an explicit analogy, the same event may be experienced differently when someone’s circumstances or perspective change. A careful reading does not diagnose a loss of taste or assume that another person’s response is mistaken. Its usefulness lies in asking what affects an experience rather than declaring it universal.

Everyday example

A host listens when a guest no longer enjoys a familiar activity instead of insisting that its past appeal must still decide the guest’s feelings.

When to use it

Use it as an analogy about perception and changed experience.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.