--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't drown your troubles ... because…" description: "\"You can't drown your troubles ... because troubles can swim.\" — Margaret Millar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/margaret-millar-19531_drown_you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-tr_1296641.png" --- # You can't drown your troubles ... because troubles can swim. ![“You can't drown your troubles ... because troubles can swim.” quote by Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/margaret-millar-19531_drown_you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-tr_1296641.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/margaret-millar-19531_drown_you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-tr_1296641.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/margaret-millar-19531_drown_you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-tr_1296641.png) > “You can't drown your troubles ... because troubles can swim.” [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Troubles are persistent and can metaphorically "swim," meaning they cannot be drowned out by avoidance; they require active handling. **In simple terms:** Problems linger and cannot be ignored. Key Takeaway Address issues directly instead of avoidance. Themes troubles avoidance mental health resilience Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal journaling - conflict resolution - stressful events Key Concepts psychology coping strategies emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform a trouble into a learning opportunity? - What strategies help you confront persistent problems? A Different Perspective Some may view this as fatalistic, implying troubles are unstoppable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [He tried to drown his troubles but they knew how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/he-tried-to-drown-his-troubles-but-they-knew-how-to-swim/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [I wanna drown my troubles, but I can't get my wife to go swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rawlinson/i-wanna-drown-my-troubles-but-i-can-t-get-my-wife-to-go-swimming/) Tony Rawlinson > [I have often wanted to drown my troubles, but I can't get my wife to go swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-have-often-wanted-to-drown-my-troubles-but-i-can-t-get-my-wife-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“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/) > [Somebody said to me, 'But the Beatles were anti-materialistic.' That's a huge myth. John and I literally used to sit down and say, 'Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/somebody-said-to-me-but-the-beatles-were-anti-materialistic-that-s-a/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“The trouble with drowning in the mess of your own life is that you're not in any shape to save anyone else. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/the-trouble-with-drowning-in-the-mess-of-your-own-life-is-that-you-re/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [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/) > [“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 > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) ## More by Margaret Millar > [You have what is known as a lot of character, meaning you can be wrong at the top of your lungs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-have-what-is-known-as-a-lot-of-character-meaning-you-can-be-wrong/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Shrews are made, not born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/shrews-are-made-not-born/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Civilization has imposed countless restrictions and conventions on each of us, with the result that the subconscious in the majority of us has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/civilization-has-imposed-countless-restrictions-and-conventions-on/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [The day will probably come when you can tell everything about a person from his dreams except his age and weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-day-will-probably-come-when-you-can-tell-everything-about-a/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [the smell of lilacs crept poignantly into the room like a remembered spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-smell-of-lilacs-crept-poignantly-into-the-room-like-a-remembered/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [the emotions at death, as at birth, are instinctive and primitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-emotions-at-death-as-at-birth-are-instinctive-and-primitive/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Private problems don't constitute an excuse for bad manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/private-problems-don-t-constitute-an-excuse-for-bad-manners/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Don't borrow trouble. The interest is too high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/don-t-borrow-trouble-the-interest-is-too-high/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [I wish people would quit telling me to think. I think. Thinking's easy. It's not thinking that's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/i-wish-people-would-quit-telling-me-to-think-i-think-thinking-s-easy/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [When you're counting alibis and not apples, one plus one equals none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/when-you-re-counting-alibis-and-not-apples-one-plus-one-equals-none/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [The smell of moist earth and lilacs hung in the air like wisps of the past and hints of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-smell-of-moist-earth-and-lilacs-hung-in-the-air-like-wisps-of-the/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Common sense is a vastly overrated virtue. I myself prefer the spark of genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/common-sense-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtue-i-myself-prefer-the-spark/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [I didn't mind giving up carnality, jewelry and red meat in return for comradeship and an afterlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/i-didn-t-mind-giving-up-carnality-jewelry-and-red-meat-in-return-for/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [The world of maps is nice and flat and simple. It has areas for people and areas for monsters. What a shock it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-world-of-maps-is-nice-and-flat-and-simple-it-has-areas-for-people/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/life-is-something-that-happens-to-you-while-you-re-making-other-plans/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) [Explore all 32 Margaret Millar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) ## More Drown quotes > [He tried to drown his troubles but they knew how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/he-tried-to-drown-his-troubles-but-they-knew-how-to-swim/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“Let me love you, girl who came from the sea. Let us swim to the bottom of the ocean where we can be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/let-me-love-you-girl-who-came-from-the-sea-let-us-swim-to-the-bottom/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [As all of us are only too aware, the loud and frantic voices of the outer world easily drown out the small, still loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-all-of-us-are-only-too-aware-the-loud-and-frantic-voices-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Families – can’t live with them – can’t take them down to the river and drown them all in sacks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/families-can-t-live-with-them-can-t-take-them-down-to-the-river-and/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“It's not just like that. I can't just swim away." "Why not?" "I'm afraid I'll drown." He looks up and gives the world's smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-moskowitz/it-s-not-just-like-that-i-can-t-just-swim-away-why-not-i-m-afraid-i/) [Hannah Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-moskowitz/) > [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/) > [Drink today, and drown all sorrow; you shall perhaps not do tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fletcher/drink-today-and-drown-all-sorrow-you-shall-perhaps-not-do-tomorrow/) [John Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fletcher/) > [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/) > [Once you get into this great stream of history you can't get out. You can drown. Or you can be pulled ashore by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/once-you-get-into-this-great-stream-of-history-you-can-t-get-out-you/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“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/) > [“If I fall in, I’m going to drown. The weights upon me are too heavy to stay afloat. My only option is to sink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/if-i-fall-in-i-m-going-to-drown-the-weights-upon-me-are-too-heavy-to/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [I lead horses to water and if they don't drink, then I drown them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-brown/i-lead-horses-to-water-and-if-they-don-t-drink-then-i-drown-them/) [Mike Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-brown/) > [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/) > [“He couldn't remember the last time human hands had willingly touched him. Not true. Miranda had. She had touched him as if he were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-callihan/he-couldn-t-remember-the-last-time-human-hands-had-willingly-touched/) [Kristen Callihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-callihan/) > [“Because at night when others are sleeping, I drown myself in poetry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/because-at-night-when-others-are-sleeping-i-drown-myself-in-poetry/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) Browse all 567 Drown quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't drown your troubles ... because troubles can swim.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret Millar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-troubles-can-swim/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drown" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-troubles-can-swim/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/margaret-millar-19531_drown_you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-tr_1296641.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/margaret-millar-19531_drown_you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-tr_1296641.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/margaret-millar-19531_drown_you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-tr_1296641.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't drown your troubles ... because troubles can swim.” — Margaret Millar", "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": "Margaret Millar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't drown your troubles ......", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-troubles-can-swim/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-troubles-can-swim/#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 } } ] } ```