Drink Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““Why don’t you give up drinking?” “Because I don’t choose. It doesn’t matter what a man does if he’s ready to take the consequences. Well, I’m ready to take the consequences. You talk glibly of giving up drinking, but it’s the only thing I’ve got left now. What do you think life would be to me without it? Can you understand the happiness I get out of my absinthe? I yearn for it; and when I drink it I savour every drop, and afterwards I feel my soul swimming in ineffable happiness. It disgusts you. You are a puritan and in your heart you despise sensual pleasures. Sensual pleasures are the most violent and the most exquisite. I am a man blessed with vivid senses, and I have indulged them with all my soul. I have to pay the penalty now, and I am ready to pay.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham, 1915
A man embraces his vices, seeing them as essential to his identity, despite societal condemnation.
In simple terms: He values his addiction as a core part of himself.
Key Takeaway
Accept personal truths, even if they clash with norms.
Themes
addiction
identity
societal judgment
pleasure
consequence
Mood
conflicted
defiant
Type
philosophical
dramatic
When to use this quote
- personal struggle
- social criticism
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
hedonism
self‑acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- What would life look like if you let go of this pleasure?
- Can one find meaning without self‑destructive habits?
A Different Perspective
His view ignores health risks and long‑term damage.
