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About this quote

What does it mean?
Wodehouse humorously claims his uncle found alcohol beneficial long before doctors agreed.
In plain terms
An uncle figured out drinking helps people before science did.
What can you take from it?
Old intuitions sometimes beat new science.

Where it applies

  • casual conversation
  • writing jokes
  • debating health

Putting it to work

  • make a joke about drinking
  • question modern trends
  • cite family wisdom

Questions to consider

  • What old habits do you trust?
  • Do experts always know best?

Another view

It exaggerates an old idea for comedic effect.

More from P. G. Wodehouse

  1. As a rule, you see, I'm not lugged into Family Rows. On the occasions when Aunt is calling Aunt like mastodons bellowing across premieval swamps and Uncle Jame…

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  2. I turned to Aunt Agatha, whose demeanour was now rather like that of one who, picking daisies on the railway, has just caught the down express in the small of …

    Permalink to quote #27
  3. Jeeves lugged my purple socks out of the drawer as if he were a vegetarian fishing a caterpillar out of his salad.

    Permalink to quote #28

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