Julien Offray de la Mettrie

I am studying for a midterm in my European studies class, and reading the works of various philosophers regarding enlightenment ideas, which is kind of exhausting but interesting. I thought the following bit of text was really cool, and it's about food! So I'm going to share it.

"The human body is a machine which winds itself up, the living image of perpetual motion. Food nourishes the movements which fever excites. Without food, the soul pines away, goes mad, and dies exhausted. It is a candle whose light flares up the moment before it goes out. But nourish the body, pour into its veins invigorating juices and strong liquors; then the soul, taking on their strength, arms itself with a proud courage, and the soldier whom water would have made flee, now made bold, runs joyously to the sounds of drums. Thus a warming drink excites the blood which a cold drink would have calmed. What power there is in a meal! Joy is born again in a sad heart; it infects the souls of table companions, who burst into the friendly songs in which the French excel."