Fasting today makes the food good tomorrow.

This saying is attributed broadly to German proverbial tradition rather than to a single identifiable author or text. It reflects a common moral and practical theme in Central European folk wisdom shaped by Christian fasting practices (e.g., Lent and other fast days) and by the realities of periodic scarcity in preindustrial life. In such contexts, abstaining from food was both a religious discipline and an enforced necessity at times; the proverb frames that deprivation as purposeful, promising a later reward in appetite and appreciation. It circulates in English as a translated “German proverb,” suggesting it was collected or popularized through proverb anthologies rather than a traceable original utterance.

The proverb links present restraint to future enjoyment: by denying yourself now, you heighten both the pleasure and the perceived value of what you later receive. On the surface it is literal—hunger makes food taste better—but it also generalizes into a philosophy of delayed gratification. The line suggests that comfort and abundance can dull appreciation, while scarcity (chosen or endured) restores attentiveness and gratitude. It can be read as advice about moderation, patience, and the psychology of desire: satisfaction is not only about what you have, but about the contrast created by what you temporarily forgo.