Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist and author, known for his groundbreaking works in the field of New Journalism. His unique style combined literary techniques with journalistic research to create a new type of storytelling.
His words have inspired generations of readers and writers alike, and these ’60 best Hunter S. Thompson quotes’ will show you why he is considered one of the most innovative authors ever.
Thompson’s writing has been celebrated for its wit, insightfulness, and sheer audacity – qualities that are all present in these quotes compiled here for your enjoyment.
From musings on life to observations about politics, humanity, and more, we guarantee you’ll find something that resonates with your subconscious desire for innovation!
Celebrating The Wit And Wisdom Of Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson’s legacy remains as vivid and dangerous today as ever before.
His works, from Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas to his various journalism pieces throughout the years, were celebrated for their brashness, wit and creative vision of a world gone mad.
Even now, decades after his death, Hunter S. Thompson continues to be an inspiration for future generations looking to make sense of modern chaos.
Thompson was known for visualizing mayhem with words that leapt off the page like wildfire; he was unafraid of taking risks and embracing danger – even if it meant sacrificing himself in order to get the story right.
Despite this willingness to go where no other writer had seen fit, his writing was never mired in nihilism or despair but instead stayed focused on finding truth among the tumult and uncertainty of life.
From politics to sports writing, Thompson always managed to capture both sides of any argument while still remaining true to what he believed was right – something that has undoubtedly left its mark on those who have followed in his footsteps.
He may not be here anymore, but his influence is still felt through culture at large: daring individuals everywhere take solace in knowing they can carry forward such a bold and dangerous legacy regardless of the consequences.
Best Hunter S Thompson Quotes
- “Buy the ticket, take the ride.”
- “I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours.”
- “Freedom is something that dies unless it’s used.”
- “I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”
- “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”
- “Good people drink good beer.”
- “The Edge…there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.”
- “In a closed society where everybody’s guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.”
- “We cannot expect people to have respect for law and order until we teach respect to those we have entrusted to enforce those laws.”
- “I feel the same way about disco as I do about herpes.”
- “I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. The following quotes are for those who like to burn the midnight oil.”
- “If you’re going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you’re going to be locked up.”
- “We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and—in spite of True Romance magazines—we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way.”
- “I am a generous man, by nature, and far more trusting than I should be. Indeed. The real world is risky territory for people with generosity of spirit. Beware.”
- “The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.”
- “I don’t know what to do with good white people.”
- “I don’t have a fear of flying; I have a fear of crashing.”
- “We cannot expect people to have respect for law and order until we teach respect to those we have entrusted to enforce those laws.”
- “You better take care of me Lord, if you don’t you’re gonna have me on your hands.”
- “I have always loved marijuana. It has been a source of joy and comfort to me for many years. And I still think of it as a basic staple of life, along with beer and ice and grapefruits—and millions of Americans agree with me.”
- “The only difference between the sane and the insane is that the sane have the power to lock up the insane.”
- “Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously.”
- “Anything that gets your blood racing is probably worth doing.”
- “When the going gets tough, the weird turn pro.”
- “A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.”
- “One of the most important things about the psychedelic experience is that it breaks down barriers of language and culture.”
- “I am not a crook.”
- “I’d hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”
- “A little bit of this town goes a very long way.”
- “We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and—in spite of True Romance magazines—we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way.”
- “I don’t know anything about music. In my line you don’t have to.”
- “It was the Law of the Sea, they said. Civilization ends at the waterline. Beyond that, we all enter the food chain, and not always right at the top.”
- “When the world gets weird enough, the sane go crazy.”
- “I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”
- “It was the Law of the Sea, they said. Civilization ends at the waterline. Beyond that, we all enter the food chain, and not always right at the top.”
- “If you’re going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you’re going to be locked up.”
- “We cannot expect people to have respect for law and order until we teach respect to those we have entrusted to enforce those laws.”
- “I was not proud of what I had learned but I never doubted that it was worth knowing.”
- “The so-called Beat Generation was a whole bunch of people, of all different nationalities, who came to the conclusion that society sucked.”
- “For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled.”
- “Let us toast to animal pleasures, to escapism, to rain on the roof and instant coffee, to unemployment insurance and library cards, to absinthe and good-hearted landlords, to music and warm bodies and contraceptives… and to the “good life”, whatever it is and wherever it happens to be.”
- “You can’t help but grow more cynical as you get older, because you see so much betrayal, so much greed and selfishness.”
- “I have always loved marijuana. It has been a source of joy and comfort to me for many years. And I still think of it as a basic staple of life, along with beer and ice and grapefruits – and millions of Americans agree with me.”
- “It never got weird enough for me.”
- “The only difference between the sane and the insane is that the sane have the power to lock up the insane.”
- “I don’t have a fear of heights, I have a fear of falling.”
- “It was the kind of moment that a photographer dreams of, and lives for. A chance to see and record history in the making… a chance to capture the essence of a man, a movement, and a nation in a single image… a chance to be greatness, if only for an instant.”
- “If you’re going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you’re going to be locked up.”
- “I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours.”
- “In a closed society where everybody’s guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.”
- “In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile, and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely.”
- “The Edge…there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.”
- “I think the main reason my work has been successful is that I’ve always realized that I wasn’t going to be any good at anything else.”
- “There are many harsh lessons to be learned from the gambling experience, but the harshest one of all is the difference between having Fun and being Smart.”
- “I don’t advocate drugs, alcohol, or insanity for everyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”
- “The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.”
- “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”
- “The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.”
- “It was one of those fine little love stories that can make you smile in your sleep at night.”
- “A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.”
Conclusion
Hunter S. Thompson was a man of many facets – an acclaimed journalist, author, and countercultural figure who left behind a wealth of unforgettable quotes that capture his wit, wisdom, and unique personality.
His words remain as inspiring today as they were during his lifetime; to read them is to remember why Hunter S. Thompson’s influence still echoes in the minds and hearts of those lucky enough to have encountered him or his work.
For all these reasons and more, it’s clear that Hunter S. Thompson will continue to be remembered for generations to come – and these 60 quotes are just one example of the legacy he left behind.
