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100 Top William Seward Burroughs Quotes

Famous As: Best Known for His Third Novel 'Naked Lunch'
Born On: February 5, 1914
Died On: August 2, 1997
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Founder / Co Founder: Burroughs Adding Machine company, Burroughs Corporation
Died At Age: 83
William Seward Burroughs was an acclaimed essayist, novelist, short story writer, performer and an incredible painter. Known worldwide as "William Lee", he was appreciated for his innovative arts, political views and culturally influential personality. William authored four essay collections, six short story series and eighteen novels in his life time. Even his interviews and correspondences were published in a series of five books. Lee, who had studied English at Harvard and Anthropology in Vienna, was incredibly talented in all art forms. After the U.S. Navy turned down his request of serving in World War II, he worked a variety of odd jobs in London, Mexico city, Tangier, Berlin, Paris and Amazon. The satirist rose to fame with his confessional novel Junkie in 1953. Thereafter, he produced some incredible pieces like the Nova Triology, The Red Night Triology, The Adding Machine and The Burroughs File. His controversial third novel "Naked Lunch" landed him in a court case, after it was challenged for violating the U.S. sodomy laws. The novel had startling, unconventional descriptions of weird sex and drug culture that influenced American society. However Burroughs emerged as a talented writer of Beat Generation. He's said to set a landmark in paranoid fiction genre. He shared his views and thoughts on several subjects through his writings and also through the characters of his novels and books. We have scanned his writings for his most famous quotes. We are taking you through some of William Seward Burroughs’ great quotes about writing, dreams, life, love, books, guns, and much more!
A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on.

A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on.

William S. Burroughs
There is no intensity of love or feeling that does not involve the risk of crippling hurt. It is a duty to take this risk, to love and feel without defense or reserve.

There is no intensity of love or feeling that does not involve the risk of crippling hurt. It is a duty to take this risk, to love and feel without defense or reserve.

William S. Burroughs
Nobody owns life, but anyone who can pick up a frying pan owns death.

Nobody owns life, but anyone who can pick up a frying pan owns death.

William S. Burroughs
Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside.

Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside.

William S. Burroughs
Silence is only frightening to people who are compulsively verbalizing.

Silence is only frightening to people who are compulsively verbalizing.

William S. Burroughs
I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it.

I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it.

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.

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
Whether you sniff it smoke it eat it or shove it up your ass the result is the same: addiction.

Whether you sniff it smoke it eat it or shove it up your ass the result is the same: addiction.

William S. Burroughs
A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on. A psychotic is a guy who's just found out what's going on.

A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on. A psychotic is a guy who's just found out what's going on.

William S. Burroughs
Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.

Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.

William S. Burroughs
If I had my way we'd sleep every night all wrapped around each other like hibernating rattlesnakes.

If I had my way we'd sleep every night all wrapped around each other like hibernating rattlesnakes.

William S. Burroughs
You were not there for the beginning. You will not be there for the end. Your knowledge of what is going on can only be superficial and relative

You were not there for the beginning. You will not be there for the end. Your knowledge of what is going on can only be superficial and relative

William S. Burroughs
The first and most important thing an individual can do is to become an individual again, decontrol himself, train himself as to what is going on and win back as much independent ground for himself as possible

The first and most important thing an individual can do is to become an individual again, decontrol himself, train himself as to what is going on and win back as much independent ground for himself as possible

William S. Burroughs
Love is a haunting melody that I have never mastered, and I fear I never will.

Love is a haunting melody that I have never mastered, and I fear I never will.

William S. Burroughs
When you stop growing you start dying.

When you stop growing you start dying.

William S. Burroughs
In the U.S. you have to be a deviant or die of boredom.

In the U.S. you have to be a deviant or die of boredom.

William S. Burroughs
There is nothing more provocative than minding your own business.

There is nothing more provocative than minding your own business.

William S. Burroughs
You know a real friend?
Someone you know will look after your cat after you are gone.

You know a real friend? Someone you know will look after your cat after you are gone.

William S. Burroughs
After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say 'I want to see the manager.

After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say 'I want to see the manager.

William S. Burroughs
Never do business with a religious son-of-a-bitch. His word ain't worth a shit -- not with the Good Lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal.

Never do business with a religious son-of-a-bitch. His word ain't worth a shit -- not with the Good Lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal.

William S. Burroughs
Love? What is it? Most natural painkiller what there is.

Love? What is it? Most natural painkiller what there is.

William S. Burroughs
Language is a virus from outer space

Language is a virus from outer space

William S. Burroughs
Artists to my mind are the real architects of change, and not the political legislators who implement change after the fact.

Artists to my mind are the real architects of change, and not the political legislators who implement change after the fact.

William S. Burroughs
Writers, like elephants, have long, vicious memories. There are things I wish I could forget.

Writers, like elephants, have long, vicious memories. There are things I wish I could forget.

William S. Burroughs
There are no innocent bystanders ... what are they doing there in the first place?

There are no innocent bystanders ... what are they doing there in the first place?

William S. Burroughs
Every man has inside himself a parasitic being who is acting not at all to his advantage.

Every man has inside himself a parasitic being who is acting not at all to his advantage.

William S. Burroughs
I am getting so far out one day I won't come back at all.

I am getting so far out one day I won't come back at all.

William S. Burroughs
The junk merchant doesn't sell his product to the consumer, he sells the consumer to his product. He does not improve and simplify his merchandise. He degrades and simplifies the client.

The junk merchant doesn't sell his product to the consumer, he sells the consumer to his product. He does not improve and simplify his merchandise. He degrades and simplifies the client.

William S. Burroughs
Panic is the sudden realization that everything around you is alive.

Panic is the sudden realization that everything around you is alive.

William S. Burroughs
Smash the control images. Smash the control machine.

Smash the control images. Smash the control machine.

William S. Burroughs