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Liquor is the chloroform which enables the poor man to endure the painful operation of living.
George Bernard Shaw
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that alcohol serves as a temporary escape for those struggling in life.

George Bernard Shaw's quote highlights the role of alcohol as a coping mechanism for individuals facing the harsh realities of life, particularly for the less fortunate. By comparing liquor to chloroform, he implies that while it may numb pain and provide relief, it is ultimately a superficial solution to deeper issues that require more comprehensive address.

Themes

AlcoholCopingLifePainEscape

In practice

Example use cases

During a toast at a gathering, one might say this quote to reflect on life's challenges.

More from George Bernard Shaw

What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
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Marriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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