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Alcohol Quote by Robert F. Young

“You're walking down Fool's Street, Laura used to say when he was drinking, and she had been right. He had known even then that she was right, but knowing had made no difference; he had simply laughed at her fears and gone on walking down it, till finally he had stumbled and fell. Then, for a long…” quote by Robert F. Young
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““You're walking down Fool's Street, Laura used to say when he was drinking, and she had been right. He had known even then that she was right, but knowing had made no difference; he had simply laughed at her fears and gone on walking down it, till finally he had stumbled and fell. Then, for a long time, he stayed away, and if he had stayed away long enough he would have been all right; but one night he began walking down it again - and met the girl. It was inevitable that on Fool's Street there should be women as well as wine. He had walked down it many times in many different towns, and now he was walking down it once again in yet another town. Fool's Street never changed, no matter where you went, and this one was no different from the others. The same skeletonic signs bled beer names in vacant windows; the same winos sat in doorways nursing muscatel; the same drunk tank awaited you when at last your reeling footsteps failed. And if the sky was darker than usual, it was only because of the rain which had begun falling early that morning and been falling steadily ever since.””

Robert F. Young

About This Quote

Source Short story: “Fool’s Street” (published 1970s)

The narrator repeatedly returns to a familiar, risky place, confronting fear and inevitability, finding both danger and unexpected connection.

In simple terms: He keeps going back to a dangerous path and meets someone.

Key Takeaway

Embrace risk, but stay aware.

Themes

risk fate repetition

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • travel
  • night walks
  • relationships
  • personal growth

Key Concepts

existentialism human behavior

Questions to Reflect On

  • What draws you back to familiar dangers?
  • Can change arise from repeated mistakes?
A Different Perspective

Repeated patterns may trap you in cycles.

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