---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first draught serveth for health, the…"
description: "\"The first draught serveth for health, the second for pleasure, the third for shame, and the fourth for madness.\" — Anonymous"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/anonymous-1_beer_the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the_2174303.jpg"
---

#  The first draught serveth for health, the second for…

![“The first draught serveth for health, the second for pleasure, the third for shame, and the fourth for madness.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/anonymous-1_beer_the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the_2174303.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/anonymous-1_beer_the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the_2174303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/anonymous-1_beer_the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the_2174303.jpg)

> “The first draught serveth for health, the second for pleasure, the third for shame, and the fourth for madness.”

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Four drinks symbolize stages of life: health, pleasure, shame, and madness, illustrating a progressive decline.

**In simple terms:** Drinks mark life’s decline.

Key Takeaway

Beware the path from pleasure to madness.

Themes

health pleasure shame madness

Mood

cautionary melancholic

Type

literary didactic

When to use this quote

- social drinking
- celebrations
- personal decline
- mental health crises

Key Concepts

addiction decline human condition

Questions to Reflect On

- What personal habits lead to decline?
- How can one break the cycle before madness?

A Different Perspective

It may overgeneralize complex life experiences into a simple sequence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beer/) [Draught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draught/) [Draught Serveth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draught-serveth-4668371/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Fourth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourth/) [Fourth Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourth-madness-4668369/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-shame-4668370/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shame Fourth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame-fourth-4668368/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/)

## Related quotes

> [Unhappy man! Do you share my maddness? Have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught? Hear me; let me reveal my tale, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unhappy-man-do-you-share-my-maddness-have-you-drunk-also-of-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [He pushed himself to his feet. “Don’t lie, Sansa. I am malformed, scarred, and small, but…” she could see him groping “…abed, when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-pushed-himself-to-his-feet-don-t-lie-sansa-i-am-malformed-scarred/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [And I can't be running back and fourth forever between grief and high delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-i-can-t-be-running-back-and-fourth-forever-between-grief-and-high/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“My life is absolutely meaningless. When I consider the different periods into which it falls, it seems like the word Schnur in the dictionary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-life-is-absolutely-meaningless-when-i-consider-the-different/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ We called the new \[fourth\] quark the "charmed quark" because we were pleased, and fascinated by the symmetry it brought to the subnuclear world.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-called-the-new-fourth-quark-the-charmed-quark-because-we-were/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Literature cannot develop between the categories "permitted"—"not permitted"—"this you can and that you can't." Literature that is not the air of its contemporary society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literature-cannot-develop-between-the-categories-permitted-not/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The first step is to measure whatever can be easily measured. This is OK as far as it goes. The second step is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-step-is-to-measure-whatever-can-be-easily-measured-this-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There will be three cats, kin of your kin, with the power of the stars in their paws. They will find a fourth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-will-be-three-cats-kin-of-your-kin-with-the-power-of-the-stars/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [One receives as reward for much ennui, despondency, boredom -such as a solitude without friends, books, duties, passions must bring with it -those quarter-hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/one-receives-as-reward-for-much-ennui-despondency-boredom-such-as-a/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Our Adonais has drunk poisonoh! What deaf and viperous murderer could crown Life's early cup with such a draught of woe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/our-adonais-has-drunk-poisonoh-what-deaf-and-viperous-murderer-could/)

[Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/)

> [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [When the milk of human kindness turns sour, it is a singularly unpalatable draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/when-the-milk-of-human-kindness-turns-sour-it-is-a-singularly/)

[Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/)

> [Fatigue is the safest sleeping draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/fatigue-is-the-safest-sleeping-draught/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [Draught excluders at the front door make a huge difference as does covering an old Chubb lock key hole. That stops the whistling wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clarke/draught-excluders-at-the-front-door-make-a-huge-difference-as-does/)

[George Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clarke/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Beer quotes

> [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/)

[Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/)

> [“Nevertheless, four years later, at the end of August 2004, a Zogby poll discovered the critical fact that 57 percent of the undecided voters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-p-pierce/nevertheless-four-years-later-at-the-end-of-august-2004-a-zogby-poll/)

[Charles P. Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-p-pierce/)

> [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/)

[Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/)

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [I never was a crazy liquor drinker, and I don't like beer that much - though I keep the brews at home because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-brown/i-never-was-a-crazy-liquor-drinker-and-i-don-t-like-beer-that-much/)

[Danny Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-brown/)

> [I'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/)

[Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/)

> [I can get along great with the Hispanics. In fact, I sure would like to meet them, even the politicians, maybe in the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-arpaio/i-can-get-along-great-with-the-hispanics-in-fact-i-sure-would-like-to/)

[Joe Arpaio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-arpaio/)

> [I was never able to have three of four beers. One's too many, and ten just ain't enough. Basically it's the way I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/i-was-never-able-to-have-three-of-four-beers-one-s-too-many-and-ten/)

[John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/)

> [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [There's nothing better than having a bottle of beer in your hand in the waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/there-s-nothing-better-than-having-a-bottle-of-beer-in-your-hand-in/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/)

[Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/)

> [Everybody thinks I drink beer but I actually like cider!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-william/everybody-thinks-i-drink-beer-but-i-actually-like-cider/)

[Prince William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-william/)

> [Design is all about relationships. Unfortunately, many designers don’t fully appreciate this. Some of the best design work I’ve ever done was drinking coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burka/design-is-all-about-relationships-unfortunately-many-designers-don-t/)

[Daniel Burka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-burka/)

> [“I drink beer not to get drunk or because i have stress, i drink beer just because i want to share good ideas with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntambara-sylvestre-owen-berbason/i-drink-beer-not-to-get-drunk-or-because-i-have-stress-i-drink-beer/)

[Ntambara Sylvestre Owen Berbason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntambara-sylvestre-owen-berbason/)

[Browse all 1,632 Beer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beer/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The first draught serveth for health, the second for pleasure, the third for shame, and the fourth for madness.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the-second-for-pleasure-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Beer"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the-second-for-pleasure-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/anonymous-1_beer_the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the_2174303.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/anonymous-1_beer_the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the_2174303.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/anonymous-1_beer_the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the_2174303.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The first draught serveth for health, the second for pleasure, the third for shame, and the fourth for…” — Anonymous",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The first draught serveth for health,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the-second-for-pleasure-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-draught-serveth-for-health-the-second-for-pleasure-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
