James Thurber Quotes
One martini is all right. Two are too many, and three are not enough.
This is one of the proverbs of King Solomon of the Jews, son of King David.
The distinction between recreational drinking and heavy drinking is a subtle one and rarely made until modern times. Most leaders who would not have heavy drinkers in positions of responsibility were usually themselves teetotalers and they were very rare. Heavy drinkers and alcoholics have been in positions of responsibility throughout history including modern times—eg House Ways & Means Chairman Wilbur Mills and Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Peter was unusual in that he made the distinction.
Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini. Early in his career, as Secretary to the Emperor, he was assigned to oversee the education of the young king of Bohemia. Piccolomini’s advice of temperance was not at all based on theological reasons as drinking was rampant, even among the clergy. Also, he recognized the major effect of peer pressure on teenagers as it affects drinking behavior.
Unfortunately, drinking has been the scourge of Russia over the years. With one of the highest alcoholism rates in the world, Russia’s average lifespan has always been shortened by alcohol.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835-1910. The Congressmen who voted for Prohibition in the next century had not read or believed this quotation of Twain’s.
Alcoholism is a disease that has affected people of every occupation, every socioeconomic class, every color and nationality, and we all have seen instances so often that most people realize that anyone might be addicted to alcohol. The result is any accusation that someone is an alcoholic is plausible to most of us. As a result of this, it has become a favorite untrue slander in political attacks. Even when false it is believable as in the earlier decades of America, drinking heavily was a part of political culture and many would become addicted.
James Grover Thurber was an American cartoonist, author, humorist, journalist, playwright, and celebrated wit. He was best known for his cartoons and short stories, published mainly in The New Yorker and collected in his numerous books.
