--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't drown yourself in drink. I've…" description: "\"You can't drown yourself in drink. I've tried, you float.\" — John Barrymore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/john-barrymore-20453_drink_you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-t_1706553.jpg" --- # You can't drown yourself in drink. I've tried, you float. ![“You can't drown yourself in drink. I've tried, you float.” quote by John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/john-barrymore-20453_drink_you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-t_1706553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/john-barrymore-20453_drink_you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-t_1706553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/john-barrymore-20453_drink_you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-t_1706553.jpg) > “You can't drown yourself in drink. I've tried, you float.” [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A warning that alcohol cannot solve deep problems; it only masks them temporarily. **In simple terms:** Alcohol can't fix problems. Key Takeaway Seek real solutions. Themes addiction self‑destruction illusion coping health Mood somber reflective Type advice cautionary When to use this quote - personal crisis - social drinking - mental health Key Concepts psychology addiction self‑care Questions to Reflect On - Why turn to drink? - What healthier coping works? A Different Perspective Alcohol may provide temporary relief but not lasting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Drown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drown/) [Drown Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drown-drink-980041/) [Drowning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drowning/) [Float](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/float/) [Tried Float](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-float-1204448/) ## Related quotes > [I can drown a drink of water. I can kill a dead tree. Don't mess with Muhammad Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-can-drown-a-drink-of-water-i-can-kill-a-dead-tree-don-t-mess-with/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I tied a bunch of balloons to a beach chair and tried to float up to heaven. \*begins to weep\* There's no heaven, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-tied-a-bunch-of-balloons-to-a-beach-chair-and-tried-to-float-up-to/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Drowning in the sea of love Where everyone would love to drown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/drowning-in-the-sea-of-love-where-everyone-would-love-to-drown/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do all the rest have to drown too?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-one-synchronized-swimmer-drowns-do-all-the-rest-have-to-drown-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everybody breaks sooner or later, Bob. Anyone can drown. Sometimes you see it. Most often, you don’t because the body protects and the skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilsa-j-bick/everybody-breaks-sooner-or-later-bob-anyone-can-drown-sometimes-you/) [Ilsa J. Bick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilsa-j-bick/) > [We hold these things inside us that no one else can see they bring us down like anchors and drown us out at sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hold-these-things-inside-us-that-no-one-else-can-see-they-bring-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I s'pose, I can't have it all my own way, can I? You can't drown in a person unless they let you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-s-pose-i-can-t-have-it-all-my-own-way-can-i-you-can-t-drown-in-a/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [A sympathetic person is placed in the dilemma of a swimmer among drowning men, who all catch at him, and if he gives so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-sympathetic-person-is-placed-in-the-dilemma-of-a-swimmer-among/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were heading for shore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury-fahrenheit-451/do-your-own-bit-of-saving-and-if-you-drown-at-least-die-knowing-you/) [Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury-fahrenheit-451/) > [“You don't drown by falling in the water, you drowned by staying there”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/you-don-t-drown-by-falling-in-the-water-you-drowned-by-staying-there/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [If one synchronised swimmer drowns, do all the rest have to drown too?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-one-synchronised-swimmer-drowns-do-all-the-rest-have-to-drown-too/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [There is more than one good way to drown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/there-is-more-than-one-good-way-to-drown/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“You're back where you swore yourself you wouldn't be The familiar shackles you can't tell from your own skin Your head's under water when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/you-re-back-where-you-swore-yourself-you-wouldn-t-be-the-familiar/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [You don't get there the easy way. If you feel sorry for yourself, and you let yourself go down, you will drown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/you-don-t-get-there-the-easy-way-if-you-feel-sorry-for-yourself-and/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [There are many ways to drown, only the most obvious wave their arms as they're going under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-flynn/there-are-many-ways-to-drown-only-the-most-obvious-wave-their-arms-as/) [Nick Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-flynn/) ## More by John Barrymore > [America is the country where you can buy a lifetime supply of aspirin For one dollar and use it up in two weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/america-is-the-country-where-you-can-buy-a-lifetime-supply-of-aspirin/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [In Genesis, it says that it is not good for a man to be alone; but sometimes it is a great relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/in-genesis-it-says-that-it-is-not-good-for-a-man-to-be-alone-but/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [My head is buried in the sands of tomorrow, while my tail feathers are singed by the hot sun of today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/my-head-is-buried-in-the-sands-of-tomorrow-while-my-tail-feathers-are/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [I would like to find a stew that will give me heartburn immediately, instead of at three o clock in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/i-would-like-to-find-a-stew-that-will-give-me-heartburn-immediately/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [ Mr. \[John\] Barrymore's smile was the smile of an actor who hates actors, and who knows that he is going to kill two or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/mr-john-barrymore-s-smile-was-the-smile-of-an-actor-who-hates-actors/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Why is there so much month left at the end of the money?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/why-is-there-so-much-month-left-at-the-end-of-the-money/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [When archaeologists discover the missing arms of Venus de Milo, they will find she was wearing boxing gloves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/when-archaeologists-discover-the-missing-arms-of-venus-de-milo-they/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [“happiness always sneaks in through a door you din't know you left open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/happiness-always-sneaks-in-through-a-door-you-din-t-know-you-left-open/) [john barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [He neither drank, smoked, nor rode a bicycle. Living frugally, saving his money, he died early, surrounded by greedy relatives. It was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/he-neither-drank-smoked-nor-rode-a-bicycle-living-frugally-saving-his/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [If it isn't the sheriff, it's the finance company; I've got more attachments on me than a vacuum cleaner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/if-it-isn-t-the-sheriff-it-s-the-finance-company-i-ve-got-more/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Method acting? There are quite a few methods. Mine involves a lot of talent, a glass, and some cracked ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/method-acting-there-are-quite-a-few-methods-mine-involves-a-lot-of/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Paper napkins never return from a laundry - nor love from a trip to the law courts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/paper-napkins-never-return-from-a-laundry-nor-love-from-a-trip-to-the/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [My wife is the kind of girl who will not go anywhere without her mother, and her mother will go anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/my-wife-is-the-kind-of-girl-who-will-not-go-anywhere-without-her/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [Sex: the thing that takes up the least amount of time and causes the most amount of trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/sex-the-thing-that-takes-up-the-least-amount-of-time-and-causes-the/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) > [The good die young, because they see it's no use living if you have got to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/the-good-die-young-because-they-see-it-s-no-use-living-if-you-have/) [John Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) [Explore all 31 John Barrymore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/) ## More Drink quotes > [When you drink from the stream remember the spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverbs/when-you-drink-from-the-stream-remember-the-spring/) [Chinese Proverbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverbs/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [“Never date a man who can’t out-drink you in tequila.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-l-maxwell/never-date-a-man-who-can-t-out-drink-you-in-tequila/) [Gina L. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-l-maxwell/) > [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/) > [“Obediently, I squash into a corner with a glass of cider. A chalkboard menu declares that the special of the day is stargazy pie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-madeleine/obediently-i-squash-into-a-corner-with-a-glass-of-cider-a-chalkboard/) [Laura Madeleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-madeleine/) > [I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-still-get-nervous-about-singing-i-drink-tea-with-honey-and-lemon/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [“I don't drink since it ruined the best thing I ever had.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-lauren/i-don-t-drink-since-it-ruined-the-best-thing-i-ever-had/) [Kimberly Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-lauren/) > [Before everyshow I do like a thousand... I drink ten glasses of water!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-brothers/before-everyshow-i-do-like-a-thousand-i-drink-ten-glasses-of-water/) [Jonas Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-brothers/) > [I've never even been into those supplements or any of that. I don't even drink energy shakes. I'm not into that kind of stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-ve-never-even-been-into-those-supplements-or-any-of-that-i-don-t/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I get pretty focused when I start working on something. And I drink a lot of water, way more than most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-woodman/i-get-pretty-focused-when-i-start-working-on-something-and-i-drink-a/) [Nick Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-woodman/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) [Browse all 5,653 Drink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't drown yourself in drink. I've tried, you float.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Barrymore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-tried-you-float/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drink" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-tried-you-float/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/john-barrymore-20453_drink_you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-t_1706553.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/john-barrymore-20453_drink_you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-t_1706553.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/john-barrymore-20453_drink_you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-t_1706553.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't drown yourself in drink. I've tried, you float.” — John Barrymore", "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": "John Barrymore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrymore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't drown yourself in drink....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-tried-you-float/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrymore/you-can-t-drown-yourself-in-drink-i-ve-tried-you-float/#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 } } ] } ```