--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can never rouse Harris. There is no…" description: "\"“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never \"weeps, he knows not why.\" If Harris'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_drinking_you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-p_167782.png" --- # You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about… ![“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never "weeps, he knows not why." If Harris's eyes fill with tears, you can bet it is because Harris has been eating raw onions, or has put too much Worcester over his chop. If you were to…” quote by Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_drinking_you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-p_167782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_drinking_you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-p_167782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_drinking_you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-p_167782.png) > ““You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never "weeps, he knows not why." If Harris's eyes fill with tears, you can bet it is because Harris has been eating raw onions, or has put too much Worcester over his chop. If you were to stand at night by the sea-shore with Harris, and say: "Hark! do you not hear? Is it but the mermaids singing deep below the waving waters; or sad spirits, chanting dirges for white corpses held by seaweed?" Harris would take you by the arm, and say: "I know what it is, old man; you've got a chill. Now you come along with me. I know a place round the corner here, where you can get a drop of the finest Scotch whisky you ever tasted- put you right in less than no time." Harris always does know a place round the corner where you can get something brilliant in the drinking line. I believe that if you met Harris up in Paradise (supposing such a thing likely), he would immediately greet you with: "So glad you've come, old fellow; I've found a nice place round the corner here, where you can get some really first-class nectar.”” [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage humorously depicts Harris as a pragmatic, unromantic character who prefers simple comforts like whisky over poetic musings, and who always knows a nearby spot for a good drink. **In simple terms:** Harris values practical pleasures over lofty ideas. Key Takeaway Seek simple, reliable comforts. Themes pragmatism humor comfort social literature drinking Mood wry lighthearted contemplative Type humorous observational character sketch When to use this quote - every gatherings - casual conversations - seeking solace in alcohol Key Concepts everyism everyism social interaction drinking culture Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize comfort over contemplation? - How do you balance practicality with imagination? A Different Perspective Harris's practical approach may overlook deeper emotional needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Harris Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harris-eating-1823630/) [Harris Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harris-poetry-1823628/) [Harris Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harris-say-1823632/) [Harris Weeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harris-weeps-1823631/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-harris-1823629/) [Scotch whisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scotch-whisky/) ## Related quotes > [“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harries - no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never "weeps, he knows not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harries-no-wild/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Champagne's funny stuff. I'm used to whiskey. Whiskey is a slap on the back, and champagne's a heavy mist before my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stewart/champagne-s-funny-stuff-i-m-used-to-whiskey-whiskey-is-a-slap-on-the/) [James Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stewart/) > [I was brought up to believe that Scotch whisky would need a tax preference to survive in competition with Kentucky bourbon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/i-was-brought-up-to-believe-that-scotch-whisky-would-need-a-tax/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [“Scotch whisky bring out a real you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-thangaswamy/scotch-whisky-bring-out-a-real-you/) [Vivek Thangaswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-thangaswamy/) > [There is no such thing as a bad whisky. Some whiskies just happen to be better than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-bad-whisky-some-whiskies-just-happen-to/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“the closure of Irish whiskey’s two biggest markets and the general restriction of trade from the two world wars, combined with most Irish distillers’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-bryson/the-closure-of-irish-whiskey-s-two-biggest-markets-and-the-general/) [Lew Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-bryson/) > [“In addition to the smells of mince and pumpkin pies, the Sage and onions of turkey stuffing, another aroma floated in the air, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/in-addition-to-the-smells-of-mince-and-pumpkin-pies-the-sage-and/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [I love to sing, and I love to drink scotch. Most people would rather hear me drink scotch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/i-love-to-sing-and-i-love-to-drink-scotch-most-people-would-rather/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [The proper drinking of Scotch whisky is more than indulgence: it is a toast to civilization, a tribute to the continuity of culture, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-daiches/the-proper-drinking-of-scotch-whisky-is-more-than-indulgence-it-is-a/) [David Daiches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-daiches/) > [An appreciation of prose is learned, not instinctive. It is an acquired taste, like Scotch whisky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-padgett/an-appreciation-of-prose-is-learned-not-instinctive-it-is-an-acquired/) [Abigail Padgett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-padgett/) > [Cuban cigars are an acquired taste, like Scotch whisky. If you're not used to them, you'll get a headache, you'll find them much too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-shanken/cuban-cigars-are-an-acquired-taste-like-scotch-whisky-if-you-re-not/) [Marvin Shanken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-shanken/) > [Happiness is having a rare steak, a bottle of whiskey, and a dog to eat the rare steak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/happiness-is-having-a-rare-steak-a-bottle-of-whiskey-and-a-dog-to-eat/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The light music of whiskey falling into glasses made an agreeable interlude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/the-light-music-of-whiskey-falling-into-glasses-made-an-agreeable/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [There are two things a Highlander likes naked, and the other one is Malt Whisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-bruce-lockhart/there-are-two-things-a-highlander-likes-naked-and-the-other-one-is/) [R. H. Bruce Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-bruce-lockhart/) > [I've been on the whisky diet - I've already lost three days!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-ve-been-on-the-whisky-diet-i-ve-already-lost-three-days/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) ## More by Jerome K. Jerome > [“George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/george-goes-to-sleep-at-a-bank-from-ten-to-four-each-day-except/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/he-would-use-a-bit-of-string-this-time-and-at-the-critical-moment/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. No; if it were men wouldn't be ashamed of it. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-poverty-is-no-crime-no-if-it-were-men/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Love is woman's business,and in "business" we all lay aside our natural weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/love-is-woman-s-business-and-in-business-we-all-lay-aside-our-natural/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [We are but the veriest, sorriest slaves of our stomach. Reach not after morality and righteousness, my friends; watch vigilantly your stomach, and diet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/we-are-but-the-veriest-sorriest-slaves-of-our-stomach-reach-not-after/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“There was no ground-floor — its ground-floor belonged to a house in the next court, and the front door opened direct upon a flight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/there-was-no-ground-floor-its-ground-floor-belonged-to-a-house-in-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“I can understand the ignorant masses loving to soak themselves in drink—oh, yes, it's very shocking that they should, of course—very shocking to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-can-understand-the-ignorant-masses-loving-to-soak-themselves-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [ They \[dogs\] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/they-dogs-never-talk-about-themselves-but-listen-to-you-while-you/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“And we sit there, by its margin, while the moon, who loves it too, stoops down to kiss it with a sister’s kiss, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/and-we-sit-there-by-its-margin-while-the-moon-who-loves-it-too-stoops/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“The only feeling that a closer intimacy has created in him for his wife is that of indulgent contempt. As there is no equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/the-only-feeling-that-a-closer-intimacy-has-created-in-him-for-his/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Evil thought is a dangerous pet. It is safer to play with it from behind the iron bars of circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/evil-thought-is-a-dangerous-pet-it-is-safer-to-play-with-it-from/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble with the rest; and if you can do with a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/if-you-are-foolish-enough-to-be-contented-don-t-show-it-but-grumble/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Life will always remain a gamble, with prizes sometimes for the imprudent, and blanks so often to the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/life-will-always-remain-a-gamble-with-prizes-sometimes-for-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“And we sit there, by its margin, while the moon, who loves it too, stoops down to kiss it with a sister’s kiss, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/and-we-sit-there-by-its-margin-while-the-moon-who-loves-it-too-stoops-2/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) [Explore all 267 Jerome K. Jerome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More Drinking quotes > [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/) > [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [You owe me a drink, you're so ugly I dropped mine when I saw you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-owe-me-a-drink-you-re-so-ugly-i-dropped-mine-when-i-saw-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We were still twirling around the tiny parking lot when the neighbors screamed 'Happy New Year'. Unfortunately we weren't sober enough to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlin-scott/we-were-still-twirling-around-the-tiny-parking-lot-when-the-neighbors/) [Kaitlin Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlin-scott/) > [I'm drinking away the exam results that don't take me anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-herrick/i-m-drinking-away-the-exam-results-that-don-t-take-me-anywhere/) [Steven Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-herrick/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [I wasn’t like, boo hoo, Bin Laden’s dead, but I wasn’t jumping. America’s a very nationalistic country, and in episodes like that of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scahill/i-wasn-t-like-boo-hoo-bin-laden-s-dead-but-i-wasn-t-jumping-america-s/) [Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scahill/) > [I guess that's the point of drinking, to take all the feelings and thoughts and morals away until you are just a body doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/i-guess-that-s-the-point-of-drinking-to-take-all-the-feelings-and/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [This is not really currency that circulates. It's like the old joke about expensive vintage wine. Wine prices will go up and once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/this-is-not-really-currency-that-circulates-it-s-like-the-old-joke/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [And it´s so different for a lot of people I´ve known. One partner doesn´t love the other enough to stop drinking, or gambling, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-katsu/and-it-s-so-different-for-a-lot-of-people-i-ve-known-one-partner/) [Alma Katsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-katsu/) > [Drinking champagne after making love is like taking a bath in chilled pearls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anistatia-r-miller/drinking-champagne-after-making-love-is-like-taking-a-bath-in-chilled/) [Anistatia R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anistatia-r-miller/) > [I was so drunk last night I fell down and missed the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-was-so-drunk-last-night-i-fell-down-and-missed-the-floor/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [Design is all about relationships. Unfortunately, many designers don’t fully appreciate this. Some of the best design work I’ve ever done was drinking coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burka/design-is-all-about-relationships-unfortunately-many-designers-don-t/) [Daniel Burka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-burka/) > [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-like-to-change-liquor-stores-frequently-because-the-clerks-got-to/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Browse all 2,711 Drinking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never \"weeps, he knows not why.\" If Harris's eyes fill with tears, you can bet it is because Harris has been eating raw onions, or has put too much Worcester over his chop. If you were to stand at night by the sea-shore with Harris, and say: \"Hark! do you not hear? Is it but the mermaids singing deep below the waving waters; or sad spirits, chanting dirges for white corpses held by seaweed?\" Harris would take you by the arm, and say: \"I know what it is, old man; you've got a chill. Now you come along with me. I know a place round the corner here, where you can get a drop of the finest Scotch whisky you ever tasted- put you right in less than no time.\" Harris always does know a place round the corner where you can get something brilliant in the drinking line. I believe that if you met Harris up in Paradise (supposing such a thing likely), he would immediately greet you with: \"So glad you've come, old fellow; I've found a nice place round the corner here, where you can get some really first-class nectar.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerome K. Jerome" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drinking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_drinking_you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-p_167782.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_drinking_you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-p_167782.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/jerome-k-jerome-1155_drinking_you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-p_167782.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris…” — Jerome K. Jerome", "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": "Jerome K. Jerome", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can never rouse Harris. There...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/#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 } } ] } ```