I’ve been saying this phrase lately. As far as I remember, I made it up.

It comes in several versions. For home cooking:

Even when it doesn’t taste as good, it tastes better when you cook it yourself.

For gardening

Even when it doesn’t taste as good, it tastes better when you grew it yourself.

I don’t own a pet today, but grew up with dogs, cats, fish, birds, lizards, snakes, and other pets:

Even when it’s not as cute, it’s cuter when you take care of it yourself.

not that cuteness is a pet’s only property. I could substitute training, loyalty, etc.

I’m not a parent, but some equivalent must apply to children. I welcome parents suggesting refinements:

Even when they don’t make you feel as proud, you feel more proud when you raise them yourself.

Here’s a cherry tomato I grew in my apartment and tasted as sweet as any could.

• ← 511: Joe Collins, part 1.5: Can We Clean South Central Los Angeles?
• 512: Perhaps our most useful lesson, from of a Paralympic athlete who endured catastrophe →