William S. Burroughs Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old William S. Burroughs quotes, William S. Burroughs sayings, and William S. Burroughs proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

Hip - Someone who knows the score. Someone who understands 'jive talk.' Someone who is 'with it.' The expression is not subject to definition because, if you don't 'dig' what it means, no one can ever tell you. William S. Burroughs
When all lies, deceit, pretense is stripped away, what remains? The truth of a painting, or a book or a man. William S. Burroughs
There is no line between the 'real world' and 'world of myth and symbol.' Objects, sensations, hit with the impact of hallucination. William S. Burroughs
If you weren't surprised by your life you wouldn't be alive. Life is surprise. William S. Burroughs
Communication must become total and conscious before we can stop it. William S. Burroughs
Most addicts I have talked to report a similar experience. They did not start using drugs for any reason they can remember. They just drifted along until they got hooked. If you have never been addicted, you can have no clear idea what it means to need junk with the addict’s special need. You don’t decide to be an addict. One morning you wake up sick and you’re an addict. William S. Burroughs
Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has. William S. Burroughs
And to bear my burden proudly for all to see, to conquer prejudice and ignorance and hate with knowledge and sincerity and love. Whenever you are threatened by a hostile presence, you emit a thick cloud of love like an octopus squirts out ink. William S. Burroughs
The face of “evil” is always the face of total need. A dope fiend is a man in total need of dope. Beyond a certain frequency need knows absolutely no limit or control. In the words of total need: “Wouldn't you?” Yes you would. You would lie, cheat, inform on your friends, steal, do anything to satisfy total need. Because you would be in a state of total sickness, total possession, and not in a position to act in any other way. William S. Burroughs
Just look there (another Heavy Metal Boy sank through the earth's crust and we got some good pictures...). William S. Burroughs
There are no innocent bystanders. What were they doing there in the first place? William S. Burroughs
Danger is a very rare commodity in these times, monopolized by intelligence agencies and stuntmen. William S. Burroughs
Like all pure creatures, cats are practical. William S. Burroughs
The Planet drifts to random insect doom. William S. Burroughs
After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. William S. Burroughs
In the magical universe, there are no coincidences and there are no accidents. nothing happens unless someone wills it to happen William S. Burroughs
Desperation is the raw material of drastic change. Only those who can leave behind everything they have ever believed in can hope to escape. William S. Burroughs
There are no innocent bystanders. What were they doing there in the first place? William S. Burroughs
Is Control controlled by its need to control? Answer: yes. William S. Burroughs
Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has. William S. Burroughs