--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I met with a bad bout after the trial was…" description: "\"I met with a bad bout after the trial was over, and while the trial was on I habit of stopping by the liquor store and buying a bottle of wine every ni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/harry-reems-51343_alcoholic_i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-wa_3102112.jpg" --- # I met with a bad bout after the trial was over, and while… ![“I met with a bad bout after the trial was over, and while the trial was on I habit of stopping by the liquor store and buying a bottle of wine every night. Just to forget the days courtroom proceedings. Then the next morning I'd get up, go to court again and do it all over again. Well, by 1985, I…” quote by Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/harry-reems-51343_alcoholic_i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-wa_3102112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/harry-reems-51343_alcoholic_i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-wa_3102112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/harry-reems-51343_alcoholic_i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-wa_3102112.jpg) > “I met with a bad bout after the trial was over, and while the trial was on I habit of stopping by the liquor store and buying a bottle of wine every night. Just to forget the days courtroom proceedings. Then the next morning I'd get up, go to court again and do it all over again. Well, by 1985, I was a fall down, low bottom drunk. An alcoholic. And in 1989, I finally got sober. And I found the rooms of a 12 Step Recovery Program. And I diligently worked those 12 Steps, and I have changed my life dramatically. I'm happily married. I converted to Christianity.” [Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a descent into alcoholism during a stressful legal career, followed by sobriety through a 12‑step program, leading to personal transformation and faith. **In simple terms:** He fell into drinking, got sober via 12‑step recovery, and changed his life. Key Takeaway Seek help, commit to recovery, and rebuild life. Themes addiction recovery personal transformation faith family Mood hopeful reflective determined Type testimonial inspirational spiritual When to use this quote - legal profession - courtroom stress - alcohol dependence - sobriety journey - marriage - religious conversion Key Concepts 12‑step program spiritual conversion behavioral change Questions to Reflect On - What motivated the decision to seek help? - How does faith influence sustained sobriety? A Different Perspective Recovery is challenging and requires ongoing support; relapse risk remains. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcoholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholic/) [Alcoholic 1989](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholic-1989-5380480/) [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Changed life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed-life/) [Changed my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed-my-life/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Courtroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtroom/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Every night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Falling down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-down/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Got Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-sober-1072605/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Happily married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happily-married/) [I have changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-have-changed/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Liquor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liquor/) [Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [It is not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I had two experiences. I had a wonderful experience in rehab, and I had a terrible experience in rehab. But, to be honest, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-vargas/i-had-two-experiences-i-had-a-wonderful-experience-in-rehab-and-i-had/) [Elizabeth Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-vargas/) > [When I got sober, I thought giving up was saying goodbye to all the fun and all the sparkle, and it turned out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/when-i-got-sober-i-thought-giving-up-was-saying-goodbye-to-all-the/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [I got sober at age forty-two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-got-sober-at-age-forty-two/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [When I got sober, that was 1990.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/when-i-got-sober-that-was-1990/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I have a lot of shame, and until I got sober at 42 years of age, I had never voted. I was just a hippie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-have-a-lot-of-shame-and-until-i-got-sober-at-42-years-of-age-i-had/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [When I got sober, I really felt like there was something that was missing from my life, Buddhism is something that I practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/when-i-got-sober-i-really-felt-like-there-was-something-that-was/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I use to pop pills all the time, but once I got sober. I saw life so diffrent. I know have all my relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-use-to-pop-pills-all-the-time-but-once-i-got-sober-i-saw-life-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I first got sober, I hadn't read anything for six or seven years. I didn't have even that much focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/when-i-first-got-sober-i-hadn-t-read-anything-for-six-or-seven-years/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [That's why I got sober. To be better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/that-s-why-i-got-sober-to-be-better/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [From 18 to 29 I was a heavy smoker, heavy drinker, drug addict, terrible eater and philanderer. The past eight years, since I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/from-18-to-29-i-was-a-heavy-smoker-heavy-drinker-drug-addict-terrible/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [When I finally got sober, I moved towards what I might have been if I hadn't been destroying myself when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/when-i-finally-got-sober-i-moved-towards-what-i-might-have-been-if-i/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [Yoga is how I got sober.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-colt/yoga-is-how-i-got-sober/) [Johnny Colt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-colt/) > [Get Up is basically the book I wanted to have my first year of sobriety. I wish someone had given me this book a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bucky-sinister/get-up-is-basically-the-book-i-wanted-to-have-my-first-year-of/) [Bucky Sinister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bucky-sinister/) > [I got sober at 27 and started writing around 30 and started playing music in public around 32, 33.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-got-sober-at-27-and-started-writing-around-30-and-started-playing/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) ## More by Harry Reems > [Whether my acting was obscene, or whether it was distasteful, well, Judge Rehnquist, who just recently passed away couldn't define pornography. His comment on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/whether-my-acting-was-obscene-or-whether-it-was-distasteful-well/) [Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) > [Basically, the prosecutor who led case against me and that administration were trying to say that an actor can be held responsible for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/basically-the-prosecutor-who-led-case-against-me-and-that/) [Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) > [I'm the first artist of any kind, good or bad, that was ever prosecuted by the Federal Government. Thirdly, they used the law retroactively.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/i-m-the-first-artist-of-any-kind-good-or-bad-that-was-ever-prosecuted/) [Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) > [I've been asked to do small parts in films, but you know, what I've learned in the 12 Steps of Recovery is that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/i-ve-been-asked-to-do-small-parts-in-films-but-you-know-what-i-ve/) [Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) > [The court case against me was a dictate out of the White House. Richard Nixon instructed the Justice Department to prosecute pornography to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/the-court-case-against-me-was-a-dictate-out-of-the-white-house/) [Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) > [If I didn't find out, or learn, that I was an alcoholic and I didn't take the 12 Steps of Recovery, I wouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/if-i-didn-t-find-out-or-learn-that-i-was-an-alcoholic-and-i-didn-t/) [Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) [Explore all 7 Harry Reems quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) ## More Alcoholic quotes > [“I'm an alcoholic, Tara.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/i-m-an-alcoholic-tara/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/) [David Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-norman/) > [If you decide on having an alcoholic at your party, make sure it's a large gathering. This way, until the alcoholic begins removing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/if-you-decide-on-having-an-alcoholic-at-your-party-make-sure-it-s-a/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I started drinking when I was like 15, and by the time I was 19 everybody knew I was an alcoholic. So I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-esparza/i-started-drinking-when-i-was-like-15-and-by-the-time-i-was-19/) [Felipe Esparza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-esparza/) > [Booze is my escape from reality,If your a drinker,You understand,I'm a Alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/booze-is-my-escape-from-reality-if-your-a-drinker-you-understand-i-m/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [There are plenty of alcoholics who can be magnificent when drunk: it does not make them any less alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-be-magnificent-when-drunk-it/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [“Medical research has revealed that in about one-tenth of the population, the liver processes alcohol differently, releasing a chemical messenger that creates the craving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaylie-jones/medical-research-has-revealed-that-in-about-one-tenth-of-the/) [Kaylie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaylie-jones/) > [“The alcoholic retains the ability to condemn his addiction and advise those not subject to it to avoid succumbing to the liquid poison. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pitigrilli/the-alcoholic-retains-the-ability-to-condemn-his-addiction-and-advise/) [Pitigrilli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pitigrilli/) > [When a woman drinks it's as if an animal were drinking, or a child. Alcoholism is scandalous in a woman, and a female alcoholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/when-a-woman-drinks-it-s-as-if-an-animal-were-drinking-or-a-child/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [In Stratford you either turn into an alcoholic or you better write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-plummer/in-stratford-you-either-turn-into-an-alcoholic-or-you-better-write/) [Christopher Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-plummer/) > [I don't like the word 'alcoholic'. I like to think of myself as an advanced drinker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-don-t-like-the-word-alcoholic-i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-an/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [Because I know I'm an addict, and I know I'm an alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/because-i-know-i-m-an-addict-and-i-know-i-m-an-alcoholic/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Rumor had it that he was homosexual; in reality, in recent years, he was simply a garden-variety alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/rumor-had-it-that-he-was-homosexual-in-reality-in-recent-years-he-was/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very much the actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/more-than-most-people-the-alcoholic-leads-a-double-life-he-is-very/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [“He’s downed four drinks in the short time it took for me to get myself together and find him. Either he’s shaken by something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/he-s-downed-four-drinks-in-the-short-time-it-took-for-me-to-get/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) [Browse all 303 Alcoholic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I met with a bad bout after the trial was over, and while the trial was on I habit of stopping by the liquor store and buying a bottle of wine every night. Just to forget the days courtroom proceedings. Then the next morning I'd get up, go to court again and do it all over again. Well, by 1985, I was a fall down, low bottom drunk. An alcoholic. And in 1989, I finally got sober. And I found the rooms of a 12 Step Recovery Program. And I diligently worked those 12 Steps, and I have changed my life dramatically. I'm happily married. I converted to Christianity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Reems" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-was-over-and-while-the-trial/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alcoholic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-was-over-and-while-the-trial/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/harry-reems-51343_alcoholic_i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-wa_3102112.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/harry-reems-51343_alcoholic_i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-wa_3102112.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/harry-reems-51343_alcoholic_i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-wa_3102112.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I met with a bad bout after the trial was over, and while the trial was on I habit of stopping by the liquor…” — Harry Reems", "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": "Harry Reems", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I met with a bad bout...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-was-over-and-while-the-trial/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/i-met-with-a-bad-bout-after-the-trial-was-over-and-while-the-trial/#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 } } ] } ```