Skip to content

Alcohol Quote by William Shakespeare

“It provokes the desire but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off.” quote by William Shakespeare
Download Open image
“It provokes the desire but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off.”

William Shakespeare

About This Quote

Source Play: Measure for Measure, Act 2, Scene 4, 1604

Alcohol stimulates desire but also corrupts performance, acting as both a catalyst and a hindrance.

In simple terms: Drink fuels desire but harms performance.

Key Takeaway

Moderate consumption to preserve effectiveness.

Themes

addiction self‑control performance

Mood

cautionary reflective

Type

dramatic didactic

When to use this quote

  • social gatherings
  • creative work
  • sports competition

Key Concepts

psychology behavioral economics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does alcohol influence your productivity?
  • Can you identify moments when it helped or hindered you?
A Different Perspective

Alcohol’s dual nature can be hard to balance.

4.4 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by William Shakespeare

Explore all 5,607 William Shakespeare quotes

More Alcohol quotes

Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes