"I never drink water; that is the stuff that rusts pipes"

This quote by W. C. Fields is an amusing way of expressing his ridicule for water. He is implying that water is not something he would ever take in, as it is the cause of pipelines rusting. This might be analyzed as a metaphor for how water can corrode and harm things, and how it can be a harmful force. It could likewise be translated as a method of expressing his choice for other drinks, such as alcohol, which he was understood to consume in large amounts. This quote is a funny method of revealing his viewpoint on water, and it is most likely that he was trying to make a joke rather than a serious declaration.