--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't drink a little, therefore I never…" description: "\"I can't drink a little, therefore I never touch it. Abstinance is as easy for me as tempreance would be difficult.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_drink_i-can-t-drink-a-little-therefore-i-never_150470.png" --- # I can't drink a little, therefore I never touch it… ![“I can't drink a little, therefore I never touch it. Abstinance is as easy for me as tempreance would be difficult.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_drink_i-can-t-drink-a-little-therefore-i-never_150470.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_drink_i-can-t-drink-a-little-therefore-i-never_150470.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_drink_i-can-t-drink-a-little-therefore-i-never_150470.png) > “I can't drink a little, therefore I never touch it. Abstinance is as easy for me as tempreance would be difficult.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Abstinence feels easy when desire is low, but restraint is challenging. **In simple terms:** Abstinence seems easy, but restraint is hard. Key Takeaway Practice disciplined restraint. Themes self‑control temptation habit Mood thoughtful serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - health goals - financial budgeting - addiction recovery Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What temptations test you? - How to strengthen willpower? A Different Perspective Self‑control requires ongoing effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstinance Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstinance-easy-1674381/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Drink Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink-little-795856/) [Tempreance Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempreance-difficult-1674382/) [Touch Abstinance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch-abstinance-1674383/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [“I only drink a little, but when I do, I become a different person, and that person drinks a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/i-only-drink-a-little-but-when-i-do-i-become-a-different-person-and/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“Go and eat and drink a little more, and you will do very well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/go-and-eat-and-drink-a-little-more-and-you-will-do-very-well/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [The French are a smallish, monkey-looking bunch and not dressed any better, on average, than the citizens of Baltimore. True, you can sit outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-french-are-a-smallish-monkey-looking-bunch-and-not-dressed-any/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [You drink a little too much and try a little too hard. And you go home to a cold bed and think, that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/you-drink-a-little-too-much-and-try-a-little-too-hard-and-you-go-home/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [The secret to a long life is to stay busy, get plenty of exercise and don't drink too much. Then again, don't drink too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-smith-johannsen/the-secret-to-a-long-life-is-to-stay-busy-get-plenty-of-exercise-and/) [Herman Smith-Johannsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-smith-johannsen/) > [Tay busy, get plenty of exercise, and dont drink too much. Then again, dont drink too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tay-busy-get-plenty-of-exercise-and-dont-drink-too-much-then-again/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm going to go to my house and drink a little bit. Can I say that? I guess I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lincecum/i-m-going-to-go-to-my-house-and-drink-a-little-bit-can-i-say-that-i/) [Tim Lincecum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lincecum/) > [It ain't that you get religion. Religion gets you and then milks you dry. Won't let you drink a little whiskey. 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When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. 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But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## 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. 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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. 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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": "I can't drink a little, therefore I never touch it. 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