- English translation
What you consume is soon forgotten, but what you give to others leaves a lasting good impression.
- Literal wording
What you eat disappears; what you share with others gives off a fragrance.
- Meaning and lesson
Private enjoyment passes without much trace, whereas generosity becomes visible through the benefit and goodwill it creates. The saying contrasts taking for oneself with giving to others, presenting kindness as something whose pleasant effects spread beyond the immediate act.
It encourages hospitality and charitable conduct by suggesting that shared food or help earns remembrance, while selfish consumption brings no comparable reputation. The image of fragrance emphasizes how a good deed can travel through people’s appreciation and conversation.
- When it is used
Use this saying to praise sharing, encourage someone to offer food or assistance, or gently remind a person that generosity builds goodwill. It suits situations where a private benefit is contrasted with an act that helps others and is warmly remembered.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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