Few things in life are more embarrassing than the necessity of having to inform an old friend that you have just got engaged to his fiancee.
W. C. FieldsRead
Now don't say you can't swear off drinking; it's easy. I've done it a thousand times.
Interpretation
This quote humorously suggests that giving up drinking is a simple task, as the speaker has repeatedly done it without difficulty.
W. C. Fields, known for his comedic persona, uses this quote to highlight the irony of self-control and the struggle many face with drinking. By asserting that he's sworn off alcohol numerous times, he conveys a mix of humor and truth about the challenges of addiction, implying that while it may seem easy to stop, the reality is often quite different.
In practice
In a comedy club setting, as a punchline after discussing personal challenges with alcohol.
Few things in life are more embarrassing than the necessity of having to inform an old friend that you have just got engaged to his fiancee.
Drown in a cold vat of whiskey? Death, where is thy sting?
I was married once--in San Francisco. I haven't seen her for many years. The great earthquake and fire in 1906 destroyed the marriage certificate. There's no legal proof. Which proves that earthquakes aren't all bad.
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.
Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.
I never vote for anyone. I always vote against.
If I were the first of May, I should be ashamed of myself.
God bless the homicidal maniacs. They make life worthwhile.
I was so ugly that my parents sent my picture to 'ripley's believe it or not' - they sent it back and said, "we don't believe it."
I have never developed indigestion from eating my words.
And that brings us to tonight's word: Truthiness. Now I'm sure some of the word-police, the 'wordanistas' over at Websters, are gonna say, 'Hey, that's not a word!' Well, anybody who knows me knows that I am no fan of dictionaries or reference books. They're elitist. Constantly telling us what is or isn't true, what did or didn't happen.
A fool and his money are soon elected.
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