---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because Brenda [Carlin] had a drinking…"
description: "\"Because Brenda [Carlin] had a drinking problem along with the coke, she had to hit bottom first. Most alcoholics do. And for her, bottom was an automob..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/george-carlin-155_accidents_because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-pro_1551662.jpg"
---

#  Because Brenda \[Carlin\] had a drinking problem along with…

![“Because Brenda &#91;Carlin&#93; had a drinking problem along with the coke, she had to hit bottom first. Most alcoholics do. And for her, bottom was an automobile accident that almost landed her in jail.” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/george-carlin-155_accidents_because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-pro_1551662.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/george-carlin-155_accidents_because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-pro_1551662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/george-carlin-155_accidents_because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-pro_1551662.jpg)

> “Because Brenda \[Carlin\] had a drinking problem along with the coke, she had to hit bottom first. Most alcoholics do. And for her, bottom was an automobile accident that almost landed her in jail.”

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

## About This Quote

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

People often hit a low point before they can change, especially with addiction.

**In simple terms:** Addiction often ends with a crisis.

Key Takeaway

Accept crisis as a catalyst.

Themes

addiction recovery crisis

Mood

hopeful realistic

Type

inspirational cautionary

When to use this quote

- rehab
- legal trouble
- health scare

Key Concepts

turning point self-awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- What crisis could motivate you?
- How can you seek help early?

A Different Perspective

Recovery may stall without support after the crisis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Alcoholics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholics/) [Alcoholics Automobile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholics-automobile-5800774/) [Automobile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automobile/) [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Carlin Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carlin-drinking-5800772/) [Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coke/) [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Drinking problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking-problem/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hit Alcoholics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit-alcoholics-5800775/) [Jail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jail/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-coke-5800773/)

## Related quotes

> [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The ending of my experience with cocaine came in a periodic way. I would get high less frequently, I would use smaller amounts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-ending-of-my-experience-with-cocaine-came-in-a-periodic-way-i/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The coke made me incredibly horny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-coke-made-me-incredibly-horny/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The angles of my body show you an awful lot. I started doing coke to feel open, but by that time, the hole had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-angles-of-my-body-show-you-an-awful-lot-i-started-doing-coke-to/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [ The effect of the coke on our relationship \[with my wife Brenda\] was very sick. Now that it's over, those were actually funny times.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-effect-of-the-coke-on-our-relationship-with-my-wife-brenda-was/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Two things happened. The creative side of my career was harmed. When I'd sit down and write under the influence of coke, the ratio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/two-things-happened-the-creative-side-of-my-career-was-harmed-when-i/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [ It was the typical paranoid experience \[to hide coke\]. As soon as I knew my hiding place, I thought the whole world knew it.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-was-the-typical-paranoid-experience-to-hide-coke-as-soon-as-i-knew/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [For an entertainer, part of the thing you do is just style. And the coke did help me get into great runs of pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/for-an-entertainer-part-of-the-thing-you-do-is-just-style-and-the/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I never took reds or Quaaludes to balance out the coke. So when it got to be four in the morning and the gram…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-took-reds-or-quaaludes-to-balance-out-the-coke-so-when-it-got/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Everybody in America is a part of this big herd of cattle being led to the marketplace, not to be sold, which is usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/everybody-in-america-is-a-part-of-this-big-herd-of-cattle-being-led/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I consider the coke a major cause. Of course, you could also make the argument that because cocaine speeds up the heart, it's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-consider-the-coke-a-major-cause-of-course-you-could-also-make-the/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [In terms of coke, the only money I ever thought about was that dollar bill I had stuck up my nose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/in-terms-of-coke-the-only-money-i-ever-thought-about-was-that-dollar/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The seven dwarfs were each on different little trips. Happy was into grass and grass alone. Happy, that's all he did. Sleepy was into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-seven-dwarfs-were-each-on-different-little-trips-happy-was-into/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Sometimes, after I'd gone at the coke like one of those snow plows moving up First Avenue, I'd think my heart was over on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/sometimes-after-i-d-gone-at-the-coke-like-one-of-those-snow-plows/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“The problem wasn't drinking. The problem was people. And what they needed wasn't a new law; what they needed was a new heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-mitchell/the-problem-wasn-t-drinking-the-problem-was-people-and-what-they/)

[Siri Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-mitchell/)

## More by George Carlin

> [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-ve-built-up-so-much-speed-that-you-hit-70-after-that-it-s-a-day/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-the-good-part-about-all-those-executions-in-texas-fewer/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

[Explore all 1,098 George Carlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

## More Accidents quotes

> [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/)

[Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/)

> [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/)

[Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/)

> [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/)

[Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

> [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/)

[Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/)

> [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/)

> [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/)

[Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/)

> [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/)

[Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/)

> [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/)

[Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/)

> [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/)

[Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/)

> [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/)

[Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/)

> [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/)

[Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/)

> [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/)

[Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/)

> [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/)

[Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/)

> [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/)

[Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/)

[Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Because Brenda [Carlin] had a drinking problem along with the coke, she had to hit bottom first. Most alcoholics do. And for her, bottom was an automobile accident that almost landed her in jail.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Carlin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-problem-along-with-the-coke-she/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accidents"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-problem-along-with-the-coke-she/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/george-carlin-155_accidents_because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-pro_1551662.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/george-carlin-155_accidents_because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-pro_1551662.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/george-carlin-155_accidents_because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-pro_1551662.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Because Brenda [Carlin] had a drinking problem along with the coke, she had to hit bottom first. Most…” — George Carlin",
                "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": "George Carlin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Because Brenda [Carlin] had a drinking...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-problem-along-with-the-coke-she/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/because-brenda-carlin-had-a-drinking-problem-along-with-the-coke-she/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
