How many beans make five meaning

A gentleman from abroad, who has lately purchased the rights of citizenship in this state, remarks that the Americans appear to be a very stubborn sett [sic] of people; the meanest mechanic amongst us not being willing to submit to our highest councils the decision of some of the plainest questions. For instance; he says he has found a cobler [sic] insisting strenuously that he knew how many blue beans make five as well as the council of censors, and that no vote could alter the matter.

This spirit he alledges [sic], would not continue if we had but a sufficient standing army. The second-earliest instance that I have found is from The Evening Packet, and Correspondent Dublin , Ireland of Thursday 7 th August —I reproduce in its entirety this hard-hitting and well-written article:. The correspondence between Lord Shrewsbury and Lord Rossmore is of a most amusing character.

But the highest joke of all is, the grave assurance given to Lord Rossmore, that he would by his presence greatly enlighten the House of Commons, and almost single-handed carry the great question of Emancipation.

Lord Shrewsbury seems to be fooling Lord Rossmore to the top of his bent 1. We presume that the Noble Lords are intimately acquainted, and that, therefore, Lord Shrewsbury knows his man.

If Lord Shrewsbury does not know Lord Rossmore otherwise than by the perusal of his public speeches, we can enlighten his Lordship, by informing him that those oratorical displays were written and reported for the Press by Mr. It is among the on dits of the day, that this resolve having been communicated to Lord Rossmore, induced his Lordship to determine quickly upon another resolve—namely, to withdraw himself altogether from public.

His Lordship is not the indiscreet man that some people may esteem him, he knows well, right well, how many beans make five ; he knows too the difference of responsibility attendant upon haranguing Henry Hunt 2 and Co. His talents, such as they are, are of a stable nature, and though he has often been brought to the post, he is not to be prevailed on to cross the bar of the House of Commons.

The phrase has given rise to humorous variations. Round the corner in Brook Street, the duke is dallying behind closed curtains with one Sophy Gerould, who loves him dearly, knows how many political beans make five-and-a-half , and is well received in Society. Prince Littler, the promoter of this pantomime, certainly knows how many beans make five thousand , and has spread himself on a transformation scene which is a real bean-feast , imposing, yet reasonably brief.

The phrase has featured in several advertisements for Heinz Baked Beans; for example, this is from the Daily Herald London of Thursday 7 th August Q How many beans make five?

I might not have existed but someone exactly like me might have existed in my place. Can you? One of the things that make a good philosopher is not getting stuck on idiotic conundrums. Do something else. Look at a different problem, anything. The answer to your conundrum may still come, when you are lying in bed, or brushing your teeth, or waiting at a red light. It means philosophy is a long way way from here.

Yet it is just at hand the moment you attempt to go on the journey. That is what thinking is all about. BTW: Some wordplays are not known in German. I only derived the meaning from the other examples given. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account.

Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Skip to content Geoffrey asked: How many beans make five? Bear with me. This is about Philosophy. Like this: Like Loading Published by Geoffrey Klempner. The right playful statement after carnival! Diogenes would applaud! Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:.

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