Samuel Johnson, in his 1755 dictionary of the English language said thus about Oats:
‘a grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.’
All the athletes I know who eat oatmeal would perhaps concur that oatmeal helps them to run, lift, and jump like horses. I’ve elsewhere heard it jokingly described as Oatanobol (reference to a steroid that increases protein synthesis and aggression and thus muscle size and strength).
Anyhow, I suddenly remembered that fact about that dictionary. A co-worker of mine loves Scotsmen (he is one and so was Adam Smith) but he hates oatmeal and he often recounts that quote.
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