Alcoholic Quote by Stephen Chbosky
““It's like when my doctor told me the story of these two brothers whose dad was a bad alcoholic. One brother grew up to be a successful carpenter and never drank. The other brother ended up being a drinker as bad as his dad was. When they asked the first brother why he didn't drink, he said that after he saw what it did to his father, he could never bring himself to even try it. When they asked the other brother, he said that he guessed he learned how to drink on his father's knee. So, I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.””
About This Quote
Source Film: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, 2012
Our upbringing shapes us, yet we retain the power to choose our future actions despite past influences.
In simple terms: We can change our path despite our background.
Key Takeaway
Choose your own direction.
Themes
family
choice
personal growth
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
inspirational
self‑help
When to use this quote
- overcoming addiction
- career change
- relationship decisions
- self‑improvement
Key Concepts
psychology
determinism
agency
Questions to Reflect On
- What habits can you adopt to redirect your path?
- How does acknowledging your past help you move forward?
A Different Perspective
Past trauma may limit perceived options.
