"To be bowed by grief is folly; Naught is gained by melancholy; Better than the pain of thinking, Is to steep the sense in drinking"

In this quote, Alcaeus is discouraging giving in to pain and also catching unhappiness. He suggests that being constantly melancholic is not efficient as well as does not bring any benefit. Rather, he proposes that it is better to sidetrack oneself from the pain of believing by delighting in alcohol consumption. While this may give a short-lived getaway from sorrow, it might not be a healthy and balanced or lasting solution. Alcaeus is acknowledging the problem of dealing with sadness, but in a manner, he seems to be supporting for locating an equilibrium and not allowing emotions totally eat one's life. Ultimately, the poem shows a feeling of detachment as well as disengagement from extreme sensations.