"A drunkard would not give money to sober people. He said they would only eat it, and buy clothes and send their children to school with it"

This quote by Samuel Butler is a commentary on the nature of those who are addicted to alcohol. The alcoholic in the quote is indicating that sober individuals are not efficient in making wise decisions with their money, and rather would squander it on pointless things such as food, clothing, and education. This is a reflection of the drunkard's own absence of self-discipline and his failure to handle his own finances. The quote likewise speaks with the concept that those who are addicted to alcohol are typically not able to see the value of money and the significance of buying the future. The alcoholic's attitude is a pointer that dependency can cause a distorted view of reality and a lack of understanding of the importance of financial duty.