Back in my 20s, I was playing poker to avoid living. I wasn't very satisfied with life. I used to play in a big game in Archway. And we'd play as much as we possibly could and for as much money as we had, and that went on for a couple of years.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- In his 20s, the speaker used poker as an escape from facing life, playing high stakes for years because he was dissatisfied. This behavior continued intensely for a couple of years until presumably something changed.
- In plain terms
- He played risky games to avoid dealing with his unhappy life.
- What can you take from it?
- Escapism can lead to destructive habits.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What are you trying to avoid in your life?
- How do you cope with dissatisfaction?
Another view
The quote does not specify how he eventually stopped or what replaced poker.
More from Patrick Marber
I was thinking in the cab on the way here that when I did press for the original production it felt like this was what I've always dreamt of - to be talking ab…
Permalink to quote #2 No one ever wanted to see it as anything other than a boring play about a middle-aged man having a mid-life crisis. I think it's about rather more than that - …
Permalink to quote #4 We've all seen 'Jewing it up' performances. They are about as miserable to watch as as 'camping it up' performances when representing gays.
Permalink to quote #1
Related quotes
I got used to dealing with groups of boys and getting on with life in unpleasant circumstances and being smart and funny and subversive at the expense of autho…
Eric IdleEric Idle quote #1 It is all well and good for children and acid freaks to still believe in Santa Claus - but it is still a profoundly morbid day for us working professionals. It…
Hunter S. ThompsonHunter S. Thompson quote #8 Reality is a crutch for people who can't cope with drugs.
Lily TomlinLily Tomlin quote #32