--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How terrible to be alcoholic. You just…" description: "\"How terrible to be alcoholic. You just want to quietly soothe and maybe poison yourself, but you end up poisoning those around you as well, like trying..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/jonathan-ames-7444_alcoholic_how-terrible-to-be-alcoholic-you-just-wa_519461.jpg" --- # How terrible to be alcoholic. You just want to quietly… ![“How terrible to be alcoholic. You just want to quietly soothe and maybe poison yourself, but you end up poisoning those around you as well, like trying to commit suicide with a gas oven and unwittingly murdering your neighbors.” quote by Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/jonathan-ames-7444_alcoholic_how-terrible-to-be-alcoholic-you-just-wa_519461.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/jonathan-ames-7444_alcoholic_how-terrible-to-be-alcoholic-you-just-wa_519461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/jonathan-ames-7444_alcoholic_how-terrible-to-be-alcoholic-you-just-wa_519461.jpg) > “How terrible to be alcoholic. You just want to quietly soothe and maybe poison yourself, but you end up poisoning those around you as well, like trying to commit suicide with a gas oven and unwittingly murdering your neighbors.” [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Alcoholism leads to self‑destruction and harms others, akin to a reckless act that endangers neighbors. **In simple terms:** Alcoholism harms self and others, like a dangerous act. Key Takeaway Seek help to break the cycle of harm. Themes addiction self‑destruction collateral damage Mood somber reflective Type cautionary empathetic When to use this quote - health - social impact - personal responsibility Key Concepts substance abuse mental health family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What steps can support recovery? - How does addiction affect community safety? A Different Perspective Recovery is challenging and may face denial or stigma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcoholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholic/) [Alcoholics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholics/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [The alcohol was awful. I was a terrible alcoholic. I mean, people used to ask how much drugs I did. I said, 'I only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/the-alcohol-was-awful-i-was-a-terrible-alcoholic-i-mean-people-used/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [I'm not an alcoholic. I just drink that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-m-not-an-alcoholic-i-just-drink-that-way/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [Friend of mine just told me he used to be a bad alcoholic. I calmed him down. Told him he was a good alcoholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/friend-of-mine-just-told-me-he-used-to-be-a-bad-alcoholic-i-calmed/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) > [“Otto said: Try to figure out a way to kill us nicely. You can, of course, drop mother into the well, and maybe you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-in-linna/otto-said-try-to-figure-out-a-way-to-kill-us-nicely-you-can-of-course/) Väinö Linna > [I wondered why it had to be so poisonous. Oleanders could live through anything, they could stand heat, drought, neglect, and put out thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-wondered-why-it-had-to-be-so-poisonous-oleanders-could-live-through/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [All this time I drank you like the cure, when maybe you were the poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-this-time-i-drank-you-like-the-cure-when-maybe-you-were-the-poison/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I’d better get going or Valek will be wondering where I am.” “Yes, by all means go. I noticed you and Valek have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/i-d-better-get-going-or-valek-will-be-wondering-where-i-am-yes-by-all/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [I tried to commit suicide by sticking my head in the oven, but there was a cake in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-boone/i-tried-to-commit-suicide-by-sticking-my-head-in-the-oven-but-there/) Lesley Boone > [People commit suicide through weakness, not through strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-commit-suicide-through-weakness-not-through-strength/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I remained basically anonymous for almost 17 years. I, in those 17 years, I tried to commit suicide a couple of times. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-mccorvey/i-remained-basically-anonymous-for-almost-17-years-i-in-those-17/) [Norma McCorvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-mccorvey/) > [I can't decide whether to commit suicide or go bowling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-henderson/i-can-t-decide-whether-to-commit-suicide-or-go-bowling/) [Florence Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-henderson/) > [I tried to commit suicide one day. It was a very Woody Allen-type suicide. I turned on the gas and left all the windows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-tried-to-commit-suicide-one-day-it-was-a-very-woody-allen-type/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [There is a deep desire in everyone to commit suicide for the simple reason, that life seems to be meaningless. People go on living,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-deep-desire-in-everyone-to-commit-suicide-for-the-simple/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I stared at the price tags and thought, Why don’t you fucking kill yourself? I have that thought a lot, actually. Hey, did you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/i-stared-at-the-price-tags-and-thought-why-don-t-you-fucking-kill/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [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/) ## More by Jonathan Ames > [“I do think everyone would be a lot happier if we laid eggs on our own and could just have friendship and didn't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-do-think-everyone-would-be-a-lot-happier-if-we-laid-eggs-on-our-own/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [“Try to think about more important things,' he said. 'Think about your soul, your character. Think about the freezer. It's a solid block of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/try-to-think-about-more-important-things-he-said-think-about-your/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [It's hard to leave New York: this is where my friends are, my parents are. It is so vital. The whole world seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/it-s-hard-to-leave-new-york-this-is-where-my-friends-are-my-parents/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [Unfortunately, I'm one of those idiots who knows everything about health and is in a constant state of alarm, and yet I continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/unfortunately-i-m-one-of-those-idiots-who-knows-everything-about/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I don't know that I've gotten much feedback directly from the literary world; sometimes I doubt even the notion that there is a literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-don-t-know-that-i-ve-gotten-much-feedback-directly-from-the/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [People don't expect too much from literature. They just want to know they're not alone with being confused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/people-don-t-expect-too-much-from-literature-they-just-want-to-know/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I have very few hobbies. In fact, I have no hobbies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-have-very-few-hobbies-in-fact-i-have-no-hobbies/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [It was one of those days when every time I went to go out the door, something grabbed me in the back of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/it-was-one-of-those-days-when-every-time-i-went-to-go-out-the-door/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I wish we had a dog in the show so that I could get to be a dog for a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-wish-we-had-a-dog-in-the-show-so-that-i-could-get-to-be-a-dog-for-a/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [There are so many talented young writers named Jonathan, with whom by comparison I suffer terribly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/there-are-so-many-talented-young-writers-named-jonathan-with-whom-by/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [“I know I experience great consolation when my mouth is between a woman’s legs. I think it must be because I’m drinking in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-know-i-experience-great-consolation-when-my-mouth-is-between-a/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I might have some sort of personality disorder. I might not have proper filters; it might be some kind of version of Asperger's meets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-might-have-some-sort-of-personality-disorder-i-might-not-have/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I didn't play or like a lot of board games as a child. I liked playing with my G.I. Joes and making up adventures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-didn-t-play-or-like-a-lot-of-board-games-as-a-child-i-liked-playing/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I always liked those characters in 'True Blood' who could turn into animals. I'd love to be an animal of some kind and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-always-liked-those-characters-in-true-blood-who-could-turn-into/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [Maybe my work isn't a cry for help. It may just be a baby's need to cry or a dog's need to bark. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/maybe-my-work-isn-t-a-cry-for-help-it-may-just-be-a-baby-s-need-to/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) [Explore all 91 Jonathan Ames quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) ## 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/) > [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": "How terrible to be alcoholic. 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