--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tell you, I cannot. I could not lead a…" description: "\"“I tell you, I cannot. I could not lead a virtuous life if I would. I should only disgrace you. If you will know all,” said she, as he still seemed inc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/elizabeth-gaskell-894_life_i-tell-you-i-cannot-i-could-not-lead-a-v_1553694.jpg" --- # I tell you, I cannot. I could not lead a virtuous life if… ![“I tell you, I cannot. I could not lead a virtuous life if I would. I should only disgrace you. If you will know all,” said she, as he still seemed inclined to urge her, “I must have drink. Such as live like me could not bear life if they did not drink. It’s the only thing to keep us from suicide…” quote by Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/elizabeth-gaskell-894_life_i-tell-you-i-cannot-i-could-not-lead-a-v_1553694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/elizabeth-gaskell-894_life_i-tell-you-i-cannot-i-could-not-lead-a-v_1553694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/elizabeth-gaskell-894_life_i-tell-you-i-cannot-i-could-not-lead-a-v_1553694.jpg) > ““I tell you, I cannot. I could not lead a virtuous life if I would. I should only disgrace you. If you will know all,” said she, as he still seemed inclined to urge her, “I must have drink. Such as live like me could not bear life if they did not drink. It’s the only thing to keep us from suicide. If we did not drink, we could not stand the memory of what we have been, and the thought of what we are, for a day. If I go without food, and without shelter, I must have my dram. Oh! you don’t know the awful nights I have had in prison for want of it,” said she, shuddering, and glaring round with terrified eyes, as if dreading to see some spiritual creature, with dim form, near her.”” [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character argues that alcohol is essential to survive emotional pain, suggesting that without it, the memory of past suffering becomes unbearable. **In simple terms:** Alcohol is portrayed as a lifeline against despair. Key Takeaway Recognize the danger of relying on substances for coping. Themes addiction despair coping Mood somber introspective Type literary cautionary When to use this quote - prison life - mental health crises - substance dependence - creative writing Key Concepts psychology existential dread Questions to Reflect On - What healthier coping mechanisms could replace the need for alcohol? - How does dependence affect self‑identity? A Different Perspective Substance reliance can exacerbate underlying trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-drink-300689/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Disgrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-disgrace-2162770/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Urge Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urge-drink-2674867/) ## Related quotes > [The Government's enthusiasm for 24 hour drinking puzzles me... We want people to be responsible, yet we urge them to drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-dobson/the-government-s-enthusiasm-for-24-hour-drinking-puzzles-me-we-want/) [Frank Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-dobson/) > [When we have lost everything, including hope, life becomes a disgrace, and death a duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/when-we-have-lost-everything-including-hope-life-becomes-a-disgrace/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [“Nevertheless, the chief thing is: Whatever the others surrounding you in a wide circle may say about you, in superior wisdom, in bestial (except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/nevertheless-the-chief-thing-is-whatever-the-others-surrounding-you/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [My character and good name are in my own keeping. Life with disgrace is dreadful. A glorious death is to be envied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/my-character-and-good-name-are-in-my-own-keeping-life-with-disgrace/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Milk does the body good but DANG how much did you drink:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treasure/milk-does-the-body-good-but-dang-how-much-did-you-drink/) [Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treasure/) > [I did everything but drink the bong water when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-rohrabacher/i-did-everything-but-drink-the-bong-water-when-i-was-young/) [Dana Rohrabacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-rohrabacher/) > [My only regret in life is that I did not drink more wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/my-only-regret-in-life-is-that-i-did-not-drink-more-wine/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Kate picked up her coffee cup, frowning when she saw it was empty. "Did you drink my coffee?" "Yes. I was feeling aggressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/kate-picked-up-her-coffee-cup-frowning-when-she-saw-it-was-empty-did/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [Men and women thought and did noble and mean things that would have been impossible to them before or after. A man cannot drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-harding-davis/men-and-women-thought-and-did-noble-and-mean-things-that-would-have/) [Rebecca Harding Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-harding-davis/) > [“I wasn't an alcoholic. I didn't drink every day, didn't often drink to excess or binge. And could leave it alone completely for large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/i-wasn-t-an-alcoholic-i-didn-t-drink-every-day-didn-t-often-drink-to/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [ “\[Arthur\] "Er... Just how much did you have to drink?" Merlin frowned at Arthur... Both of him. ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fayjay/arthur-er-just-how-much-did-you-have-to-drink-merlin-frowned-at/) [FayJay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fayjay/) > [“I awake to hear a shower running and quickly stifle a groan. Oh God, my head hurts! How much did I have to drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-mcclean/i-awake-to-hear-a-shower-running-and-quickly-stifle-a-groan-oh-god-my/) [J.C. McClean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-mcclean/) > [“I ordered you apple pie.” Hank pushed a plate toward me. It was empty. Or rather, it had crumbs on it where an apple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-ordered-you-apple-pie-hank-pushed-a-plate-toward-me-it-was-empty-or/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [I like whiskey. I always did, and that is why I never drink it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-like-whiskey-i-always-did-and-that-is-why-i-never-drink-it/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“he did not drink or do drugs or smoke cigarettes or wear black eyeliner or stay out late or get bad grades or pierce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-did-not-drink-or-do-drugs-or-smoke-cigarettes-or-wear-black/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by Elizabeth Gaskell > [“Osborne and Roger knowing that the wife of the former was a Frenchwoman, and, conscious of each other's knowledge, felt doubly awkward; while Molly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/osborne-and-roger-knowing-that-the-wife-of-the-former-was-a/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [But Margaret went less abroad, among machinery and men; saw less of power in its public effect, and, as it happened, she was thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/but-margaret-went-less-abroad-among-machinery-and-men-saw-less-of/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“And besides, in the matter of friendship, I have observed that the disappointment here arises chiefly, not from liking our friends too well, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/and-besides-in-the-matter-of-friendship-i-have-observed-that-the/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [What other people may think of the rightness or wrongness is nothing in comparison to my own deep knowledge, my innate conviction that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/what-other-people-may-think-of-the-rightness-or-wrongness-is-nothing/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“The first question sobbed out by his choking voice, oppressed with emotion, was-- "Where is she?" They led him to the room where his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/the-first-question-sobbed-out-by-his-choking-voice-oppressed-with/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Wearily she went to bed, wearily she arose in four or five hours' time. But with the morning came hope, and a brighter view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/wearily-she-went-to-bed-wearily-she-arose-in-four-or-five-hours-time/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [No one loves me, - no one cares for me, but you, mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/no-one-loves-me-no-one-cares-for-me-but-you-mother/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn't me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/i-won-t-say-she-was-silly-but-i-think-one-of-us-was-silly-and-it-wasn/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Mr. Thorton love Margaret! Why, Margraret would never think of him, I'm sure! Such a thing has never entered her head." "Entering her heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/mr-thorton-love-margaret-why-margraret-would-never-think-of-him-i-m/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“He never looked at her; and yet, the careful avoidance of his eyes betokened that in some way he knew exactly where, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/he-never-looked-at-her-and-yet-the-careful-avoidance-of-his-eyes/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Ay! but mother's words are scarce, and weigh heavy. Father's liker me, and we talk a deal o' rubble; but mother's words are liker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/ay-but-mother-s-words-are-scarce-and-weigh-heavy-father-s-liker-me/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Margaret liked this smile; it was the first thing she had admired in this new friend of her father's; and the opposition of character,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/margaret-liked-this-smile-it-was-the-first-thing-she-had-admired-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Don’t be afraid,” she said, coldly, “ as far as love may go she may be worthy of you. It must have taken a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/don-t-be-afraid-she-said-coldly-as-far-as-love-may-go-she-may-be/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) [Explore all 330 Elizabeth Gaskell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## More Drink quotes > [When you drink from the stream remember the spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverbs/when-you-drink-from-the-stream-remember-the-spring/) [Chinese Proverbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverbs/) > [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/) > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [“Never date a man who can’t out-drink you in tequila.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-l-maxwell/never-date-a-man-who-can-t-out-drink-you-in-tequila/) [Gina L. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-l-maxwell/) > [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/) > [“Obediently, I squash into a corner with a glass of cider. A chalkboard menu declares that the special of the day is stargazy pie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-madeleine/obediently-i-squash-into-a-corner-with-a-glass-of-cider-a-chalkboard/) [Laura Madeleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-madeleine/) > [I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-still-get-nervous-about-singing-i-drink-tea-with-honey-and-lemon/) [Mary J. 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And I drink a lot of water, way more than most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-woodman/i-get-pretty-focused-when-i-start-working-on-something-and-i-drink-a/) [Nick Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-woodman/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) [Browse all 5,653 Drink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I tell you, I cannot. I could not lead a virtuous life if I would. I should only disgrace you. If you will know all,” said she, as he still seemed inclined to urge her, “I must have drink. Such as live like me could not bear life if they did not drink. It’s the only thing to keep us from suicide. If we did not drink, we could not stand the memory of what we have been, and the thought of what we are, for a day. If I go without food, and without shelter, I must have my dram. 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