--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It were better for a man to be subject to…" description: "\"It were better for a man to be subject to any vice than to drunkenness; for all other vanities and sins are recovered, but a drunkard will never shake ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/walter-raleigh-4068_delight_it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-t_1302077.png" --- # It were better for a man to be subject to any vice than to… ![“It were better for a man to be subject to any vice than to drunkenness; for all other vanities and sins are recovered, but a drunkard will never shake off the delight of beastliness.” quote by Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/walter-raleigh-4068_delight_it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-t_1302077.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/walter-raleigh-4068_delight_it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-t_1302077.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/walter-raleigh-4068_delight_it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-t_1302077.png) > “It were better for a man to be subject to any vice than to drunkenness; for all other vanities and sins are recovered, but a drunkard will never shake off the delight of beastliness.” [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being drunk leads to a permanent loss of self‑control, unlike other vices that can be abandoned. **In simple terms:** Drunkenness permanently damages character. Key Takeaway Avoid alcohol to preserve dignity. Themes self‑control addiction morality Mood reflective cautionary Type advisory ethical When to use this quote - social gatherings - stress relief - celebrations - peer pressure Key Concepts temptation habit formation self‑identity Questions to Reflect On - Can you identify habits that are harder to quit than others? - What strategies help maintain self‑control? A Different Perspective Recovery from drunkenness is far harder than from other sins. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Drunkenness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunkenness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [Most men call fretting a minor fault, a foible, and not a vice. There is no vice except drunkenness which can so utterly destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt-jackson/most-men-call-fretting-a-minor-fault-a-foible-and-not-a-vice-there-is/) [Helen Hunt Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt-jackson/) > [A drunkard is the annoyance of modesty, the trouble of civility, the spoil of wealth, the distraction of reason. He is the brewer's agent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/a-drunkard-is-the-annoyance-of-modesty-the-trouble-of-civility-the/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [A drunkard is unprofitable for any kind of good service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/a-drunkard-is-unprofitable-for-any-kind-of-good-service/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Troops of furies march in the drunkard's triumph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/troops-of-furies-march-in-the-drunkard-s-triumph/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [The drunkard forfeits man and doth divest All wordly right, save what he hath by beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/the-drunkard-forfeits-man-and-doth-divest-all-wordly-right-save-what/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Oh! if you could only hear Intemperance with drunkards' bones drumming on the top of the wine cask the Dead March of immortal souls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-witt-talmage/oh-if-you-could-only-hear-intemperance-with-drunkards-bones-drumming/) [Thomas De Witt Talmage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-witt-talmage/) > [The drunkard is convicted by his praises of wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/the-drunkard-is-convicted-by-his-praises-of-wine/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [I am a drunkard from another kind of tavern. I dance to a silent tune. I am the symphony of stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-am-a-drunkard-from-another-kind-of-tavern-i-dance-to-a-silent-tune/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [The dyspeptic and the drunkard do not know how to eat or drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/the-dyspeptic-and-the-drunkard-do-not-know-how-to-eat-or-drink/) [Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/) > [If you take from a theory only the conclusions you like and discard the rest, you are using the theory as a drunkard uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mankiw/if-you-take-from-a-theory-only-the-conclusions-you-like-and-discard/) [Greg Mankiw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mankiw/) > [Poe wrote like a drunkard and a man who is not accustomed to pay his debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-twining-hadley/poe-wrote-like-a-drunkard-and-a-man-who-is-not-accustomed-to-pay-his/) [Arthur Twining Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-twining-hadley/) > [“These are the words of a fool: I am happy to be a fool, for i won't spend my time gazing at lines difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/these-are-the-words-of-a-fool-i-am-happy-to-be-a-fool-for-i-won-t/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Some people miss flesh as a drunkard misses his dram.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/some-people-miss-flesh-as-a-drunkard-misses-his-dram/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Sometimes I wish I was just a simple drunkard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/sometimes-i-wish-i-was-just-a-simple-drunkard/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) > [A drunkard is like a whiskey-bottle, all neck and belly and no head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-drunkard-is-like-a-whiskey-bottle-all-neck-and-belly-and-no-head/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) ## More by Walter Raleigh > [ \[It is a basic principle of a tyrant\] to unarm his people of weapons, money and all means whereby they resist his power. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/it-is-a-basic-principle-of-a-tyrant-to-unarm-his-people-of-weapons/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [But it is hard to know them from friends, they are so obsequious and full of protestations; for a wolf resembles a dog, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/but-it-is-hard-to-know-them-from-friends-they-are-so-obsequious-and/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Flatterers are the worst kind of traitors, for they will strengthen thy imperfections, encourage thee in all evils, correct thee in nothing, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/flatterers-are-the-worst-kind-of-traitors-for-they-will-strengthen/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Expressive glances Shall be our lances And pops of Sillery Our light artillery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/expressive-glances-shall-be-our-lances-and-pops-of-sillery-our-light/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [The world is itself but a larger prison, out of which some are daily selected for execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/the-world-is-itself-but-a-larger-prison-out-of-which-some-are-daily/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Whosoever, in writing a modern history, shall follow truth too near the heels, it may happily strike out his teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/whosoever-in-writing-a-modern-history-shall-follow-truth-too-near-the/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Fain would I, but I dare not; I dare, and yet I may not; I may, although I care not, for pleasure when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/fain-would-i-but-i-dare-not-i-dare-and-yet-i-may-not-i-may-although-i/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [And when I'm introduced to one I wish I thought What Jolly Fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/and-when-i-m-introduced-to-one-i-wish-i-thought-what-jolly-fun/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [The gain of lying is nothing else but not to be trusted of any, nor to be believed when we say the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/the-gain-of-lying-is-nothing-else-but-not-to-be-trusted-of-any-nor-to/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [An anthology is like all the plums and orange peel picked out of a cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/an-anthology-is-like-all-the-plums-and-orange-peel-picked-out-of-a/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Corrupt seeds bring forth corrupt plants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/corrupt-seeds-bring-forth-corrupt-plants/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [No one can take less pains than to hold his tongue. Hear much, and speak little; for the tongue is the instrument of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/no-one-can-take-less-pains-than-to-hold-his-tongue-hear-much-and/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [In a word, we may gather out of History a policy no less wise than I eternal; by the comparison and application of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/in-a-word-we-may-gather-out-of-history-a-policy-no-less-wise-than-i/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Romance is a love affair in other than domestic surroundings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/romance-is-a-love-affair-in-other-than-domestic-surroundings/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/hath-triumphed-over-time-which-besides-it-nothing-but-eternity-hath/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) [Explore all 116 Walter Raleigh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) ## More Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) Aaron Betsky > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) Rodney Clapp > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It were better for a man to be subject to any vice than to drunkenness; for all other vanities and sins are recovered, but a drunkard will never shake off the delight of beastliness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Raleigh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-to-any-vice-than-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-to-any-vice-than-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/walter-raleigh-4068_delight_it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-t_1302077.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/walter-raleigh-4068_delight_it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-t_1302077.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/walter-raleigh-4068_delight_it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-t_1302077.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It were better for a man to be subject to any vice than to drunkenness; for all other vanities and sins are…” — Walter Raleigh", "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": "Walter Raleigh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It were better for a man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-to-any-vice-than-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/it-were-better-for-a-man-to-be-subject-to-any-vice-than-to/#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 } } ] } ```