Ernest Feelings about Drinking, by Hemingway
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
Much has been said about the effect of alcohol on the health, but even more about it's effect on the imagination. Drinkers have a nuanced etiquette of moderation to stupor, but nobody taught us the truths of drinking better than the lover of rum and frequenter of bars, Ernest Hemingway.
And truly, the difference between sober and drunk acts is most profound.
Drink all Day
In a letter to Ivan Kaskin in 1935, Hemingway scripted, “When you work hard all day with your head and know you must work again the next day what else can change your ideas and make them run on a different plane like whisky? When you are cold and wet what else can warm you? Before an attack who can say anything that gives you the momentary well-being that rum does?... The only time it isn't good for you is when you write or when you fight. You have to do that cold. But it always helps my shooting. Modern life, too, is often a mechanical oppression and liquor is the only mechanical relief."
Such prose was required for when choosing to drink. And he was even quoted saying: "Never delay kissing a pretty girl or opening a bottle of whiskey." Because time, as they say, is the only luxury we have, for we never get it back. When questioned about drinking while doing work, Hemingway stated, “Jesus Christ! Have you ever heard of anyone who drank while he worked? You’re thinking of Faulkner. He does sometimes—and I can tell right in the middle of a page when he’s had his first one.”
Obligatory Drinking
And in an era of social distancing, we can all relate to the sentiment that "I drink to make other people more interesting." Somewhere, everyone can relate to this dire sentiment of having to socialize at an unexpectedly dull gathering. Seems to have been a trend that was prevalent in the 1900s from evocative statements like "An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools."
Drink en Route
For those who enjoy the joys of traveling, we whole-heartedly, and whole-liver-ly agree with his resounding sentiment: “Don’t bother with churches, government buildings or city squares. If you want to know about a culture, spend a night in its bars.”
Night Cap
And what about hangovers or sleep? Surely, one can relate to the feeling of having a mild headache to the urge to hug your pillowcases harder than your lovers. "I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?"
We know all too ernestly, Hemingway.
Lastly, "Drinking is a way to end the day."
Cheers to that.
