A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

The MORE the merrier

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  c 1380 Pearl (1953) 1. 850 The mo [more] the myryer, so God me blesse. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. vii. I3 The mo the merier, we all daie here [hear] and se. Ye but the fewer the better fare (saied he). 1614 T. ADAMS Devil’s Banquet IV. 196 The company is.. all the Patriarchs, Prophets, Saints. .. The more the mirrier, yea, and the better cheare to. 1855 C. KINGSLEY Westward Ho! III. iv. The old proverb comes true—’the more the merrier: but the fewer the better fare.’ 1976 L. ALTHER Kinflicks xiii. ‘Take my word for it. Have another baby.’.. ‘The more, the merrier!’ 2001 M. DAHL Viking Claw vii. 56 A third rope was tossed through the hole. ‘Clip that on, too!’ yelled out Uncle Stoppard. Why not? The more the merrier. ■hospitality; merriment
  

The MORE you get, the more you want
An observation more succinctly stated as MUCH would have more. Cf. HORACE Epistles II. ii. 147 quanto plura parasti, tanto plura cupis, you want as much again as you have already got.

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  c 1340 R. ROLLE Psalter (1884) 97 The mare that a man has the brennandere [more ardently] he askis. a 1450 Castle of Perseverance 1. 3268 in Macro Plays (EETS) The more he hadde, the more he cravyd, Whyl the lyf lefte hym with-Inne. 1578 J. FLORIO First Fruits 32 The more a man hath, the more he desireth. 1798 W. MANNING Key of Liberty (1922) 9 In short he is never easy, but the more he has the more he wants. 1940 G. H. COXE Glass Triangle x. I was averaging eighty to a hundred [dollars] a week. Well, you know how it is. The more you get the more you want. ■greed; riches
  

more see also more HASTE, less speed; the more LAWS, the more thieves and bandits; LESS is more; MUCH would have more; the more you STIR it the worse it stinks; there are more WAYS of killing a cat than choking it with cream; there are more WAYS of killing a
dog than choking it with butter; there are more WAYS of killing a dog than hanging it.