You Can't Have Your Cake & Eat It Too!

I have always had a weird fixation on this idiom. I hate it. I mean why would someone want a piece of cake that can't be eaten? What's the point in having a piece of cake? if you are not allowed to partake of it's moist sweet deliciousness.


I've had this cliche repeated to me soo many times, I can't even count or remember the many terms of the conversations. In essence this is what I hear, I can't have it both ways. I am not allowed to enjoy the "cake" and I should stop being greedy. I am only supposed to look at the cake and not eat it. I can't have it my way plus more of my way for good measure. But why not? What is wrong with wanting more? I just couldn't figure this one out for the life of me...


So, I researched this cliche to gain a better understanding. Some little nugget that I could hold on to, so the next time I hear it, I am prepared. Prepared for a witty comeback.. (you know me)

You can't have your cake and eat it too!

- We understand You Can't. But in what way is the verb Have being used. Have is the key to this cliche! Is it, Have, as in to devour, or to possess? Maybe have as in to have an experience. I need for this Have nonsense to make sense so I can finally rationalize this cliche! Wrap it around my brain, and "get it!" After much deliberation with the jury, Me. I possible may have it finally!

This is what I have come to understand:

I can't have (devour in total) my cake and eat it too! Because if I devour the cake until it's gone, then there is no cake left for me to eat anymore. When you don't have something anymore, that usually means it's gone. As in the cake I've been referring to. Most times, I don't want everything. I want just enough, for me. Enough to keep me satisfied, healthy, and unconditionaly free from being tied to it. There will be no witty comeback for me on this one. The old cliche is true, I can't have my cake and eat it too!