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Well, between Scotch and nothin’, I suppose I’d take Scotch. It’s the nearest thing to good moonshine I can find.
— William Faulkner
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
Asked to choose, the speaker says Scotch beats having nothing, and then adds a wry twist: it's the closest thing they can find to good moonshine. The joke is a backhanded compliment, praising the favored drink mostly by comparison to something homemade and better.
Context reviewed