E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Aloe.
A Hebrew word, Greek alo. A very bitter plant; hence the proverb, Plus aloes quam mellis habet, “(Life) has more bitters than sweets.” The French say, “La oôte d’Adam contient plus d’aloès que de miel,” where côte d’ Adam, of course, means woman or one’s wife.
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Socotrine Aloes came originally from the island called Socotra, in the Indian Ocean.
. A very bitter plant; hence the proverb, Plus aloes quam mellis habet, “(Life) has more bitters than sweets.” The French say, “La oôte d’Adam contient plus 
