--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was drunk upon the average once a day…" description: "\"He was drunk upon the average once a day, and penitent upon an equally fair calculation once a month; and when he was penitent, he was invariably in th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/charles-dickens-34_average_he-was-drunk-upon-the-average-once-a-day_2162875.jpg" --- # He was drunk upon the average once a day, and penitent… ![“He was drunk upon the average once a day, and penitent upon an equally fair calculation once a month; and when he was penitent, he was invariably in the very last stage of maudlin intoxication. He was a ragged, roving, roaring kind of fellow, with a burly form, a sharp wit, and a ready head, and…” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/charles-dickens-34_average_he-was-drunk-upon-the-average-once-a-day_2162875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/charles-dickens-34_average_he-was-drunk-upon-the-average-once-a-day_2162875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/charles-dickens-34_average_he-was-drunk-upon-the-average-once-a-day_2162875.jpg) > “He was drunk upon the average once a day, and penitent upon an equally fair calculation once a month; and when he was penitent, he was invariably in the very last stage of maudlin intoxication. He was a ragged, roving, roaring kind of fellow, with a burly form, a sharp wit, and a ready head, and could turn his hand to anything when he chose to do it.” [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man alternates between heavy drinking and frequent, intense remorse, yet remains adaptable and capable. **In simple terms:** He drinks a lot, feels guilty often, but can handle many tasks. Key Takeaway Recognize cycles of excess and remorse, and use adaptability wisely. Themes addiction remorse adaptability resilience character Mood reflective cautious hopeful Type narrative character study When to use this quote - daily life - personal relationships - workplace - creative projects - social gatherings Key Concepts self‑control moral conflict resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance indulgence with responsibility? - What strengths help you recover from excess? A Different Perspective His adaptability may mask deeper issues needing help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average/) [Calculations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculations/) [Day Penitent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-penitent-4596611/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Fellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellows/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Intoxication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intoxication/) [Intoxication Ragged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intoxication-ragged-4596610/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Month Penitent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/month-penitent-4596609/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Penitent Equally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penitent-equally-4596612/) [Penitent Invariably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penitent-invariably-4596608/) [Ragged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ragged/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Roaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roaring/) [Roving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roving/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) ## Related quotes > [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. 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