Is -half a loaf- a Bible listed concept?

[sear]

I vaguely recall a Bible passage on the topic of compromise, which uses the (or similar) phrase -half a loaf [of bread]-.

But I've done character string searches for "half a loaf", "half", and "loaf" but have not found the passage I'm looking for.

What am I gunna do?

[LouisBooth]

hmm..not sure..nothing comes to mind, but then again I'm at work without all my books to help :) I'll check if I find anything I'll get back to ya.

[sear]

Thanks LouisBooth, I'll stay tuned.

I wish I could provide more info. on it. I have the impression the idea behind it is; better to have half a loaf than none at all. Thus, the issue of compromise.
But I don't know much more than that.

If I were better at doing internet searches, perhaps searching Bartlet's Familiar Quotations would help. I may give that a shot.

If I find out anything, I'll post it.

Good luck.

[sear]

source reference www.bartleby.com/99 (http://www.bartleby.com/99)


It's like the problem with using the quote "for whom the bell tolls". Many assume it's a reference to Hemingway's book by that name. In a way it is. But Hemingway's title borrows from a previous work by the poet John Donne in his poem Devotions upon Emergent Occasions XVII
"Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee."

I think that's what's happening with the quote that follows. It is -A- reference, but not the -original- reference; as far as I can tell.

NUMBER: 12247
QUOTATION:
Compromise used to mean that half a loaf was better than no bread. Among modern statesmen it really seems to mean that half a loaf is better than a whole loaf.

ATTRIBUTION: Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)

source: www.bartleby.com/66/47/12247.html (http://www.bartleby.com/66/47/12247.html)

What-ever. It's not that big a deal.
I'm just baffled because I'd presumed it was a Biblical reference, and it apparently is not.

[LouisBooth]

did you find it. I have been checking but haven't seen it yet. Just in the NT though..I'll try the OT tomorrow.

[savinggrc]

I couldn't find anything like it in the Bible - perhaps you ought to try Ben Franklin's quotes...Poor Richard's Almanac. It sounds like something he would write.

K

[sear]

Good idea. Ben Franklin was a way smart of a dude.

I presume once I figure out the original source, it'll seem obvious to me.
But I've not figured it out yet.