Alcoholics Quote by Augusten Burroughs
““Meetings are the Hail Marys of alcoholics. You can do or almost do anything, feel anything, commit any number of non-sober atrocities, as long as you follow with an AA chaser. "After I cut off his penis, I sauteed it in rosemary butter and ate it." "But did you go to a meeting afterward?" "Yes" "I wouldn't worry about it then.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Running with Scissors, Augusten Burroughs, 2002
The quote uses dark humor to depict meetings as a crutch for reckless behavior, suggesting people use them to justify extreme actions.
In simple terms: Meetings are portrayed as an excuse for wild deeds.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when rituals become excuses.
Themes
humor
addiction
recklessness
Mood
cynical
dark
provocative
Type
satire
cautionary
When to use this quote
- substance abuse recovery
- support groups
- personal boundaries
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
dark comedy
self‑destruction
social rituals
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you use rituals to excuse harmful actions?
- How can you confront behavior without relying on group validation?
A Different Perspective
The humor may downplay serious issues of addiction and violence.
![“John [the father] kept saying, "You have a penis. That means you’re a boy." One day, Shannon noticed that her son had been in the bathroom an awfully long time and pushed the door open. "He had a pair of my best, sharpest sewing scissors poised, ready to cut. Penis in the scissors. I said, 'What…” quote by Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/037/andrew-solomon-1140_gender_john-the-father-kept-saying-you-have-a-p_2623428.jpg)
![“I hardly ever went to the AA [alcoholics anonymous] meetings. I’ve just never felt comfortable in those places. It’s my worst zone. I’ll get up and sing my heart out in front of two hundred thousand people at a rock festival, but when I’ve got to talk about the way I feel to people I’ve never met…” quote by Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e1d/ozzy-osbourne-685_quote_i-hardly-ever-went-to-the-aa-alcoholics_506946.jpg)
