--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are plenty of alcoholics who can be…" description: "\"There are plenty of alcoholics who can be magnificent when drunk: it does not make them any less alcoholic.\" — Ingrid Bengis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/ingrid-bengis-29669_alcoholic_there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-b_31802.jpg" --- # There are plenty of alcoholics who can be magnificent when… ![“There are plenty of alcoholics who can be magnificent when drunk: it does not make them any less alcoholic.” quote by Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/ingrid-bengis-29669_alcoholic_there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-b_31802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/ingrid-bengis-29669_alcoholic_there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-b_31802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/ingrid-bengis-29669_alcoholic_there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-b_31802.jpg) > “There are plenty of alcoholics who can be magnificent when drunk: it does not make them any less alcoholic.” [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being intoxicated can temporarily mask the underlying addiction, but it doesn't alter the fundamental condition. **In simple terms:** Drunken brilliance doesn't cure alcoholism. Key Takeaway Temporary performance ≠ recovery Themes addiction self-perception temporary success illusion behavioral paradox Mood reflective cautious Type aphor observation When to use this quote - evaluating a colleague after a party - assessing personal progress in sobriety - judging talent based on occasional brilliance Key Concepts alcohol dependence performance under influence self-deception Practical Applications - counseling strategies - public health messaging Questions to Reflect On - Does occasional competence change the need for treatment? - How can we recognize true recovery beyond moments of brilliance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcoholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholic/) [Alcoholics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholics/) [Alcoholism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholism/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Whatever your (unfavorable) situation is, it is a good idea to ask yourself "WHAT YOU WOULD DO if you were free of it." An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-roberts/whatever-your-unfavorable-situation-is-it-is-a-good-idea-to-ask/) [Seth Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-roberts/) > [I am an alcoholic, as I said. And it is however we call it, a disease. That's an explanation, but not an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachy-mccourt/i-am-an-alcoholic-as-i-said-and-it-is-however-we-call-it-a-disease/) [Malachy McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachy-mccourt/) > [I want to be a bloated alcoholic. That's my goal - it is, I'm serious, because there is no other disease that is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-irrera/i-want-to-be-a-bloated-alcoholic-that-s-my-goal-it-is-i-m-serious/) [Dom Irrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-irrera/) > [To give up power to change for the better is inherently distasteful to everyone, and to force people to affirm that they are addicts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/to-give-up-power-to-change-for-the-better-is-inherently-distasteful/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [A man who drinks too much on occasion is still the same man as he was sober. An alcoholic, a real alcoholic, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/a-man-who-drinks-too-much-on-occasion-is-still-the-same-man-as-he-was/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Saying you're an alcoholic and an addict is like saying you're from Los Angeles and from California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/saying-you-re-an-alcoholic-and-an-addict-is-like-saying-you-re-from/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [Alcoholism is a disease, but it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. Goddamn it Otto, you are an alcoholic. Goddamn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/alcoholism-is-a-disease-but-it-s-the-only-one-you-can-get-yelled-at/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [“AA purports to be open to anyone, as it is stated in Tradition Tree, "The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/aa-purports-to-be-open-to-anyone-as-it-is-stated-in-tradition-tree/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [Trying to describe the process of becoming an alcoholic is like trying to describe air. It's too big and mysterious and pervasive to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/trying-to-describe-the-process-of-becoming-an-alcoholic-is-like/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Nobody understands that by the time the addiction has set in the alcoholic is mandated to drink ... he cannot not drink! Nobody wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/nobody-understands-that-by-the-time-the-addiction-has-set-in-the/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [As an alcoholic, you will violate your standards quicker than you can lower them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/as-an-alcoholic-you-will-violate-your-standards-quicker-than-you-can/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [“There's not alcoholic in the world who wants to be told what to do. Alcoholics are sometimes described as egomaniacs with inferiority complexes. Or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kiedis/there-s-not-alcoholic-in-the-world-who-wants-to-be-told-what-to-do/) [Anthony Kiedis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kiedis/) > [“An alcoholic is dependent on alcohol. Alcohol is dependent on the bottle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/an-alcoholic-is-dependent-on-alcohol-alcohol-is-dependent-on-the/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [But I'm not a saint yet. I'm an alcoholic. I'm a drug addict. I'm homosexual. I'm a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/but-i-m-not-a-saint-yet-i-m-an-alcoholic-i-m-a-drug-addict-i-m/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## More by Ingrid Bengis > [“... how much patience is a virtue, how much rage is a necessity?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/how-much-patience-is-a-virtue-how-much-rage-is-a-necessity/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [The real questions refuse to be placated. They are the questions asked most frequently and answered most inadequately, the ones that reveal their true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/the-real-questions-refuse-to-be-placated-they-are-the-questions-asked/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [The real trap of fame is its irresistibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/the-real-trap-of-fame-is-its-irresistibility/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [“You need to claim the events of your life to make yourself yours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/you-need-to-claim-the-events-of-your-life-to-make-yourself-yours/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [For me, words are a form of action, capable of influencing change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/for-me-words-are-a-form-of-action-capable-of-influencing-change/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [Words are a form of action, capable of influencing change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/words-are-a-form-of-action-capable-of-influencing-change/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [“I knew. I was not naive. I didn't want to know. I was naive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/i-knew-i-was-not-naive-i-didn-t-want-to-know-i-was-naive/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [The real questions are the ones that obtrude upon your consciousness whether you like it or not, the ones that make your mind start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/the-real-questions-are-the-ones-that-obtrude-upon-your-consciousness/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [Imagination has always had powers of resurrection that no science can match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/imagination-has-always-had-powers-of-resurrection-that-no-science-can/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [Words possess primitive mystical incantatory healing powers... Their articulation represents a complete, lived experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/words-possess-primitive-mystical-incantatory-healing-powers-their/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [“Since this is Russia, such things are to be expected, though of course, neither he nor anyone else expected it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/since-this-is-russia-such-things-are-to-be-expected-though-of-course/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [No matter what the subject, the subject is always love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/no-matter-what-the-subject-the-subject-is-always-love/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [For me words still possess their primitive, mystical, incantatory powers. I am inclined to use them as part of an attempt to make my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/for-me-words-still-possess-their-primitive-mystical-incantatory/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [The real questions are the ones that obtrude upon your consciousness whether you like it or not, the ones that make your mind start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/the-real-questions-are-the-ones-that-obtrude-upon-your-consciousness-2/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) > [At the age of thirty-five, I have just begun to become the kind of person who could understand the kind of book I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/at-the-age-of-thirty-five-i-have-just-begun-to-become-the-kind-of/) [Ingrid Bengis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) [Explore all 18 Ingrid Bengis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/) ## 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 > [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/) > [“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/) > [It's strange. You never start out life with the intention of becoming a bankrupt or an alcoholic or a cheat and a thief. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/it-s-strange-you-never-start-out-life-with-the-intention-of-becoming/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) [Browse all 303 Alcoholic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are plenty of alcoholics who can be magnificent when drunk: it does not make them any less alcoholic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ingrid Bengis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-be-magnificent-when-drunk-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alcoholic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-be-magnificent-when-drunk-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/ingrid-bengis-29669_alcoholic_there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-b_31802.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/ingrid-bengis-29669_alcoholic_there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-b_31802.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/ingrid-bengis-29669_alcoholic_there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-b_31802.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are plenty of alcoholics who can be magnificent when drunk: it does not make them any less alcoholic.” — Ingrid Bengis", "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": "Ingrid Bengis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bengis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are plenty of alcoholics who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-be-magnificent-when-drunk-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bengis/there-are-plenty-of-alcoholics-who-can-be-magnificent-when-drunk-it/#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 } } ] } ```