--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The joy made him feel like a drunken man…" description: "\"“The joy made him feel like a drunken man. To teach and exhort and explain to his people--and to have them understand. That was the best of all. To spe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/carson-mccullers-1694_drunken_the-joy-made-him-feel-like-a-drunken-man_1909213.png" --- # The joy made him feel like a drunken man. To teach and… ![“The joy made him feel like a drunken man. To teach and exhort and explain to his people--and to have them understand. That was the best of all. To speak the truth and be attended.” quote by Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/carson-mccullers-1694_drunken_the-joy-made-him-feel-like-a-drunken-man_1909213.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/carson-mccullers-1694_drunken_the-joy-made-him-feel-like-a-drunken-man_1909213.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4a/carson-mccullers-1694_drunken_the-joy-made-him-feel-like-a-drunken-man_1909213.png) > ““The joy made him feel like a drunken man. To teach and exhort and explain to his people--and to have them understand. That was the best of all. To speak the truth and be attended.”” [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding joy in truth‑telling and being understood by others. **In simple terms:** Joy comes from truth and being heard. Key Takeaway Speak truth, seek understanding. Themes truth communication joy Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - community building Key Concepts authenticity empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does truth foster connection? - What barriers prevent understanding? A Different Perspective Truth may be uncomfortable for listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) ## Related quotes > [Weakness ineffectually seeks to disguise itself,--like a drunken man trying to show how sober he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/weakness-ineffectually-seeks-to-disguise-itself-like-a-drunken-man/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [I feel like a drunken man who doesn't have a drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pleat/i-feel-like-a-drunken-man-who-doesn-t-have-a-drink/) [David Pleat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pleat/) > [That was the best of all. To speak the truth and be attended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/that-was-the-best-of-all-to-speak-the-truth-and-be-attended/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“Piano Man put up a fight but his resistance was futile. Hell hath no fury like a drunken girl at her bachelorette party in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lesage/piano-man-put-up-a-fight-but-his-resistance-was-futile-hell-hath-no/) [Vicki Lesage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lesage/) > [I went down like a drunken cowgirl trying to line dance to Metallica.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-went-down-like-a-drunken-cowgirl-trying-to-line-dance-to-metallica/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [“He might move like a jaguar, but I moved like a drunken elephant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-lamanna/he-might-move-like-a-jaguar-but-i-moved-like-a-drunken-elephant/) [Gina LaManna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-lamanna/) > [“Drunks they may be, but a drunken man knows not fear. Fools, aye, but a fool can kill a king. Rats, that too, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/drunks-they-may-be-but-a-drunken-man-knows-not-fear-fools-aye-but-a/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Olivia: What's a drunken man like, fool? Feste: Like a drowned man, a fool, and a madman: one draught above heat makes him a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/olivia-what-s-a-drunken-man-like-fool-feste-like-a-drowned-man-a-fool/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [That which the sober man keeps in his breast, the drunken man lets out at the lips. Astute people, when they want to ascertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/that-which-the-sober-man-keeps-in-his-breast-the-drunken-man-lets-out/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Human reason is like a drunken man on horseback; set it up on one side, and it tumbles over on the other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/human-reason-is-like-a-drunken-man-on-horseback-set-it-up-on-one-side/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The drunken man is a living corpse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/the-drunken-man-is-a-living-corpse/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp posts - for support rather than for illumination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/he-uses-statistics-as-a-drunken-man-uses-lamp-posts-for-support/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Truth is often attended with danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammianus-marcellinus/truth-is-often-attended-with-danger/) [Ammianus Marcellinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammianus-marcellinus/) > [“I scratch down happiness, I want my ink to do happy dances, to careen across the pages staggering like a drunken fellow, giddy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryana-johnson/i-scratch-down-happiness-i-want-my-ink-to-do-happy-dances-to-careen/) [Bryana Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryana-johnson/) > [Wits, like drunken men with swords, are apt to draw their steel upon their best acquaintances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/wits-like-drunken-men-with-swords-are-apt-to-draw-their-steel-upon/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) ## More by Carson McCullers > [“Because things accumulate around your name," said Berenice. "You have a name and one thing after another happens to you, and you behave in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/because-things-accumulate-around-your-name-said-berenice-you-have-a/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [It was like she was cheated. Only nobody had cheated her. So there was nobody to take it out on. However, just the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/it-was-like-she-was-cheated-only-nobody-had-cheated-her-so-there-was/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“Love is a joint experience between two persons—but the fact that it is a joint experience does not mean that it is a similar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/love-is-a-joint-experience-between-two-persons-but-the-fact-that-it/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [The thinking mind is best controlled by the imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/the-thinking-mind-is-best-controlled-by-the-imagination/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“He was like a man who had served a term in prison or had been to Harvard College or had left for a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/he-was-like-a-man-who-had-served-a-term-in-prison-or-had-been-to/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [Comparing the Brooklyn that I know with Manhattan is like comparing a comfortable and complacent duenna to her more brilliant and neurotic sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/comparing-the-brooklyn-that-i-know-with-manhattan-is-like-comparing-a/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“Son, do you know how love should be begun?" The boy sat small and listening and still. Slowly he shook his head. The old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/son-do-you-know-how-love-should-be-begun-the-boy-sat-small-and/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [The most fatal thing a man can do is try to stand alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/the-most-fatal-thing-a-man-can-do-is-try-to-stand-alone/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [The dimensions of a work of art are seldom realized by the author until the work is accomplished. It is like a flowering dream.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/the-dimensions-of-a-work-of-art-are-seldom-realized-by-the-author/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [Now hoppin'-john was F. Jasmine's very favorite food. She had always warned them to wave a plate of rice and peas before her nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/now-hoppin-john-was-f-jasmine-s-very-favorite-food-she-had-always/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [There's nothing that makes you so aware of the improvisation of human existence as a song unfinished. Or an old address book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/there-s-nothing-that-makes-you-so-aware-of-the-improvisation-of-human/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“Maybe when people longed for a thing that bad the longing made them trust in anything that might give it to them . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/maybe-when-people-longed-for-a-thing-that-bad-the-longing-made-them/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“But the music did not come again. The tune was left broken, unfinished. And the drawn tightness she could no longer stand. She felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/but-the-music-did-not-come-again-the-tune-was-left-broken-unfinished/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [“...we must remember that we all make the things of this earth of value because of labor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/we-must-remember-that-we-all-make-the-things-of-this-earth-of-value/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [I have more to say than Hemingway, and God knows, I say it better than Faulkner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/i-have-more-to-say-than-hemingway-and-god-knows-i-say-it-better-than/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) [Explore all 211 Carson McCullers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) ## More Drunken quotes > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [Why what a fool was I to this drunken monster for a God. - Caliban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-what-a-fool-was-i-to-this-drunken-monster-for-a-god-caliban/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The drunken politician leaps upon the street where mothers weep, and the saviors who are fast asleep, they wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-drunken-politician-leaps-upon-the-street-where-mothers-weep-and/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Piano Man put up a fight but his resistance was futile. Hell hath no fury like a drunken girl at her bachelorette party in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lesage/piano-man-put-up-a-fight-but-his-resistance-was-futile-hell-hath-no/) [Vicki Lesage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lesage/) > [“Then it hits me. I’m actually kneeling before a toilet. The throne, as other drunks call it. How many drunken nights and slungover mornings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/then-it-hits-me-i-m-actually-kneeling-before-a-toilet-the-throne-as/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [Playing Willie Loomis was really fun for me because it was something nice and different to embody. It was neat playing this drunken servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-earle-haley/playing-willie-loomis-was-really-fun-for-me-because-it-was-something/) [Jackie Earle Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-earle-haley/) > [“Drunks they may be, but a drunken man knows not fear. Fools, aye, but a fool can kill a king. Rats, that too, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/drunks-they-may-be-but-a-drunken-man-knows-not-fear-fools-aye-but-a/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Drunken with what? With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you will. But be drunken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/drunken-with-what-with-wine-with-poetry-or-with-virtue-as-you-will/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [Back then, before it became clear that democracy was best served by a drunken electorate, the bars in New York City were required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-block/back-then-before-it-became-clear-that-democracy-was-best-served-by-a/) [Lawrence Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-block/) > [Drunken behavior will not be tolerated, except by those who are being hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/drunken-behavior-will-not-be-tolerated-except-by-those-who-are-being/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Jessica: “You great drunken jackass!” Dain: “I did not give you leave to use my Christian name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/jessica-you-great-drunken-jackass-dain-i-did-not-give-you-leave-to/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/stay-yourselves-and-wonder-cry-ye-out-and-cry-they-are-drunken-but/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Detroit is drunken idiots. It was no surprise to me. I performed with Kenny Rogers for one year as his opening act, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gallagher/detroit-is-drunken-idiots-it-was-no-surprise-to-me-i-performed-with/) [Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gallagher/) > [Keep your drunken electrons dancing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/keep-your-drunken-electrons-dancing/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [Are we taking the drunken drivers off the road only to turn them into drunken pedestrians?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawren-harris/are-we-taking-the-drunken-drivers-off-the-road-only-to-turn-them-into/) [Lawren Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawren-harris/) Browse all 126 Drunken quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The joy made him feel like a drunken man. To teach and exhort and explain to his people--and to have them understand. 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