--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can’t tell twelve from twenty these days…" description: "\"“Can’t tell twelve from twenty these days, son. It must be something the government has been puttin’ in the water—be damn careful when you need to knoc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/j-a-redmerski-1662_careful_can-t-tell-twelve-from-twenty-these-days_3055548.png" --- # Can’t tell twelve from twenty these days, son. It must be… ![“Can’t tell twelve from twenty these days, son. It must be something the government has been puttin’ in the water—be damn careful when you need to knock some boots.” quote by J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/j-a-redmerski-1662_careful_can-t-tell-twelve-from-twenty-these-days_3055548.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/j-a-redmerski-1662_careful_can-t-tell-twelve-from-twenty-these-days_3055548.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/j-a-redmerski-1662_careful_can-t-tell-twelve-from-twenty-these-days_3055548.png) > ““Can’t tell twelve from twenty these days, son. It must be something the government has been puttin’ in the water—be damn careful when you need to knock some boots.”” [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously blames government‑added chemicals for poor eyesight, warning caution when confronting danger. **In simple terms:** Government water additives supposedly blur vision; be cautious. Key Takeaway Question authority and stay vigilant. Themes conspiracy health caution Mood skeptical wry Type satire warning When to use this quote - risk assessment - critical reading - personal safety Key Concepts government policy public health Questions to Reflect On - How do we verify such claims? - What safeguards protect public health? A Different Perspective None provided ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Told you in the jam that we can get down. Now let's knock the boots like the group H-town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-tribe-called-quest/told-you-in-the-jam-that-we-can-get-down-now-let-s-knock-the-boots/) [A Tribe Called Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-tribe-called-quest/) > [I think we have to be very careful. If we do go back in, we need to understand why and what the probability of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-clarke/i-think-we-have-to-be-very-careful-if-we-do-go-back-in-we-need-to/) [Richard A. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-clarke/) > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/) W Clement Stone > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/) Davan Yahya Khalil > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## More by J.A. Redmerski > [“Sarai, you never know who might betray you until it’s too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/sarai-you-never-know-who-might-betray-you-until-it-s-too-late/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“The twins hobbled forward. "Freaks and dames and boys and things, drinks and bones and shiny rings," said the twin on the left. "Ashes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/the-twins-hobbled-forward-freaks-and-dames-and-boys-and-things-drinks/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“You two were meant to be together. It's like some wicked fucking fairytale love story that you just can't make up, y'know?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/you-two-were-meant-to-be-together-it-s-like-some-wicked-fucking/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [Live in the moment, where everything is just right, take your time and limit your bad memories and you'll get wherever it is you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/live-in-the-moment-where-everything-is-just-right-take-your-time-and/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Maybe that is the key to surviving change: embracing it, however cumbersomely, or gracefully, one can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/maybe-that-is-the-key-to-surviving-change-embracing-it-however/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“spontaneity is more rewarding than a meticulously planned life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/spontaneity-is-more-rewarding-than-a-meticulously-planned-life/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [I don't know myself. I don't know what I want or how I feel or how I should feeland I don't think I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/i-don-t-know-myself-i-don-t-know-what-i-want-or-how-i-feel-or-how-i/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“You know damn well that it doesn’t really matter what’s going on in your life, who you just lost, how much you hate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/you-know-damn-well-that-it-doesn-t-really-matter-what-s-going-on-in/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“The heart always wins over the mind. The heart although reckless and suicidal and a masochist all on its own always gets its way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/the-heart-always-wins-over-the-mind-the-heart-although-reckless-and/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“I go to the window of my top floor hotel room and gaze out, not at the glittering city, but at the stars fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/i-go-to-the-window-of-my-top-floor-hotel-room-and-gaze-out-not-at-the/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Don't, he says and then places his free hand underneath mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/don-t-he-says-and-then-places-his-free-hand-underneath-mine/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Where everything is just right, take your time and limit your bad memories and you'll get wherever it is you're going a lot faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/where-everything-is-just-right-take-your-time-and-limit-your-bad/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Forgive me,” I whisper to Izabel, ignoring it all, as if I were in the eye of that storm where everything is calm, rocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/forgive-me-i-whisper-to-izabel-ignoring-it-all-as-if-i-were-in-the/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [Are you in love with me, Camryn Bennett?” … “Not yet,” I say with a smile in my voice, “but I’m getting there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/are-you-in-love-with-me-camryn-bennett-not-yet-i-say-with-a-smile-in/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“He's gawking at me when I open the door. "Damn girl," he says, looking me over, "what the hell are you trying to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/he-s-gawking-at-me-when-i-open-the-door-damn-girl-he-says-looking-me/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) [Explore all 212 J.A. Redmerski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) ## More Careful quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/) Davan Yahya Khalil > [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/) W Clement Stone > [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) Browse all 2,861 Careful quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Can’t tell twelve from twenty these days, son. It must be something the government has been puttin’ in the water—be damn careful when you need to knock some boots.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.A. 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