Meaning

Too much of a good thing

The meaning of the phrase

Excess may do you harm.

Woe is me
Woe is me

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Too much of a good thing’?

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations lists this phrase as proverbial and dates it from the late 15th century. Th earliest example that I can find of it in print is from Shakespeare’s As You Like It, 1600:

ROSALIND: Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?
Come, sister, you shall be the priest and marry us.
Give me your hand, Orlando. What do you say, sister?

The full quote

Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?

The familiar phrase is a compression of Rosalind's question.

Earliest known source: William Shakespeare, As You Like It, 1600

Historical trend

“Too much of a good” in printed material over time

Source: Google Books Ngrams (1800–2020).

180018201840186018801900192019401960198020002020
  • Too much of a good

Cited as a source

Referenced by 1 trusted source for this phrase

Backlink data verified August 2026 via Ahrefs (live index). These sources cite Phrase Finder as a reference for the meaning and origin of this expression.

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