--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: TEETOTALER, n. One who abstains from…" description: "\"TEETOTALER, n. One who abstains from strong drink, sometimes totally, sometimes tolerably totally.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/ambrose-bierce-140_cooking_teetotaler-n-one-who-abstains-from-stron_1509275.jpg" --- # TEETOTALER, n. One who abstains from strong drink… ![“TEETOTALER, n. One who abstains from strong drink, sometimes totally, sometimes tolerably totally.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/ambrose-bierce-140_cooking_teetotaler-n-one-who-abstains-from-stron_1509275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/ambrose-bierce-140_cooking_teetotaler-n-one-who-abstains-from-stron_1509275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/ambrose-bierce-140_cooking_teetotaler-n-one-who-abstains-from-stron_1509275.jpg) > “TEETOTALER, n. One who abstains from strong drink, sometimes totally, sometimes tolerably totally.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A teetotaler is someone who avoids alcohol, either completely or to a tolerable degree. **In simple terms:** Abstainer from alcohol, fully or partially. Key Takeaway Understand varied abstinence levels. Themes alcohol temperance language humor Mood witty analytical Type lexicographic humorous When to use this quote - health counseling - social events - policy making - personal branding Key Concepts sociolinguistics cultural norms personal choice Questions to Reflect On - What defines true temperance? - How does society view moderate abstinence? A Different Perspective Partial abstinence may be ambiguous socially. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstains Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstains-strong-5552361/) [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Culinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culinary/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-drink/) [Teetotaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teetotaler-2019443/) [Teetotaler Abstains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teetotaler-abstains-5552360/) [Teetotalers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teetotalers/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [A teetotaler would regard it as his duty to associate with his drunkard brother for the purpose of weaning him from the evil habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-teetotaler-would-regard-it-as-his-duty-to-associate-with-his/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I'm only a beer teetotaler, not a champagne teetotaler; I don't like beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-m-only-a-beer-teetotaler-not-a-champagne-teetotaler-i-don-t-like/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I worked nightclubs all through my 20s, and I was a teetotaler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-worked-nightclubs-all-through-my-20s-and-i-was-a-teetotaler/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [“If water was beer I'd be a teetotaler”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-bellamacina/if-water-was-beer-i-d-be-a-teetotaler/) [Benny Bellamacina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-bellamacina/) > [I'd hate to be a teetotaler. Imagine getting up in the morning and knowing that's as good as you're going to feel all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-d-hate-to-be-a-teetotaler-imagine-getting-up-in-the-morning-and/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [I am a teetotaler but I have to say that the film business is intoxicating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhushan-kumar/i-am-a-teetotaler-but-i-have-to-say-that-the-film-business-is/) [Bhushan Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhushan-kumar/) > [The copy of an ad is merely a punning gag to distract the critical faculties while the image of the product goes to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-copy-of-an-ad-is-merely-a-punning-gag-to-distract-the-critical/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [I was horribly bookish, to the point of coming right out and saying it, which I knew was not socially acceptable. I particularly loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-was-horribly-bookish-to-the-point-of-coming-right-out-and-saying-it/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [He didn't call his father and mother 'Father' and 'Mother' but Harold and Alberta. They were very up to date and advanced people. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/he-didn-t-call-his-father-and-mother-father-and-mother-but-harold-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [There should be asylums for habitual teetotalers, but they would probably relapse into teetotalism as soon as they got out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/there-should-be-asylums-for-habitual-teetotalers-but-they-would/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I particularly loved the adjective bookish, which I found other people used about as often as ramrod or chum or teetotaler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/i-particularly-loved-the-adjective-bookish-which-i-found-other-people/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [“But then Benny came to the rescue and said that teetotalers in general—according to Allan—were a threat to world peace, but that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-jonasson/but-then-benny-came-to-the-rescue-and-said-that-teetotalers-in/) [Jonas Jonasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-jonasson/) > [I drink exactly as much as I want, and one drink more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-drink-exactly-as-much-as-i-want-and-one-drink-more/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The typical socialist... a prim little man with a white-collar job, usually a secret teetotaler and often with vegetarian leanings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-typical-socialist-a-prim-little-man-with-a-white-collar-job/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [All the great villainies of history, from the murder of Abel onward, have been perpetrated by sober men, chiefly by Teetotalers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/all-the-great-villainies-of-history-from-the-murder-of-abel-onward/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Cooking quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [I enjoy cooking, but stick to modern dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-enjoy-cooking-but-stick-to-modern-dishes/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-accustomed-to-american-food-and-american-domestic-cookery-would/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [My Mom always cooked healthy. Greek food lends itself to cooking healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/my-mom-always-cooked-healthy-greek-food-lends-itself-to-cooking/) [Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. I love everything, down to the execution of the plate to picking out fresh ingredients at the market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/cooking-brings-me-so-much-joy-i-love-everything-down-to-the-execution/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [Recipes don't work unless you use your heart!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-jones/recipes-don-t-work-unless-you-use-your-heart/) [Dylan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-jones/) > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I have a great time cooking and eating Thai green chicken curry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-have-a-great-time-cooking-and-eating-thai-green-chicken-curry/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There are times when born hollandaise heads, as well as nouveaux turbot freaks and recherche escargotphiles alike crave the saignet abundance of a New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-greene/there-are-times-when-born-hollandaise-heads-as-well-as-nouveaux/) [Gael Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-greene/) > [Speaking of trust, ever since I wrote this book, 'Liespotting,' no one wants to meet me in person anymore - no, no, no, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/speaking-of-trust-ever-since-i-wrote-this-book-liespotting-no-one/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) > [Balance is key in cooking - you want a little acid, a little sweet, a little savory - the flavors should be harmonious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simmons/balance-is-key-in-cooking-you-want-a-little-acid-a-little-sweet-a/) [Gail Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simmons/) > [A combination of the qualities of the scholar, the master cook, the painter, the gastronomer, the sportsman and the pantologist, assisted by the skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ellwanger/a-combination-of-the-qualities-of-the-scholar-the-master-cook-the/) [George Ellwanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ellwanger/) [Browse all 2,937 Cooking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "TEETOTALER, n. 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