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100 Top Quotes By Allen Ginsberg, The Author Of Howl And Other Poems

Famous As: Best Known for His Poem ‘Howl’, Which is One of the Most Significant Products of the 'Beat Movement'
Born On: June 3, 1926
Died On: April 5, 1997
Born In: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Died At Age: 70

Allen Ginsberg was without a doubt one of the most respected Beat writers and acclaimed American poets of his generation. Born in 1926 New Jersey to a teacher and Russian expatriate father, Ginsberg went on to exert a prominent influence in post-World War II American culture. Throughout his literary career, Ginsberg strongly opposed militarism, economic materialism and sexual repression. He became one of the pivotal figures of the Beat Movement which included famous writers such as Jack Kerouac and William S Burroughs and was known for his unconventional views, and frequently rambunctious behaviour. He championed gay rights and anti-war movements and openly protested the Vietnam War. Ginsberg embodied various aspects of this counterculture, such as his views on drugs, hostility to bureaucracy and openness to Eastern religions. Despite his counterculture background, he was recognized as America’s prolific writer and artistic icon. His most famous works include the poem, ‘Howl’ wherein he denounced the destructive forces of capitalism and conformity in US. His unconventional thoughts and counterculture belief is also visible on his quotes that perfectly describe his emotion and his thought. Check this section and find out some of the top quotes by Allen Ginsberg on life and living.

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Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.

Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.

Allen Ginsberg
I don't think there is any truth. There are only points of view.

I don't think there is any truth. There are only points of view.

Allen Ginsberg
The weight of the world is love. 
Under the burden of solitude, 
under the burden of dissatisfaction 
the weight,the weight we carry is love.

The weight of the world is love. Under the burden of solitude, under the burden of dissatisfaction the weight,the weight we carry is love.

Allen Ginsberg
Concentrate on what you want to say to yourself and your friends. Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness. You say what you want to say when you don't care who's listening.

Concentrate on what you want to say to yourself and your friends. Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness. You say what you want to say when you don't care who's listening.

Allen Ginsberg
We're all golden sunflowers inside.

We're all golden sunflowers inside.

Allen Ginsberg
Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does.

Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does.

Allen Ginsberg
Whoever controls the media, the 
images, controls the culture.

Whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture.

Allen Ginsberg
Our heads are round so thought can change direction

Our heads are round so thought can change direction

Allen Ginsberg
I know too much and not enough

I know too much and not enough

Allen Ginsberg
Poetry is the one place where people can speak their original human mind. It is the outlet for people to say in public what is known in private.

Poetry is the one place where people can speak their original human mind. It is the outlet for people to say in public what is known in private.

Allen Ginsberg
I really believe, or want to believe, really I am nuts, otherwise I'll never be sane.

I really believe, or want to believe, really I am nuts, otherwise I'll never be sane.

Allen Ginsberg
Everything is holy! everybody's holy! everywhere is holy! everyday is in eternity! Everyman's an angel!

Everything is holy! everybody's holy! everywhere is holy! everyday is in eternity! Everyman's an angel!

Allen Ginsberg
Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather boa!

Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather boa!

Allen Ginsberg
If I had a soul I sold it
for pretty words
If I had a body I used
it up spurting my essence

Allen Ginsberg warns you
dont follow my path
to extinction

If I had a soul I sold it for pretty words If I had a body I used it up spurting my essence Allen Ginsberg warns you dont follow my path to extinction

Allen Ginsberg
America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.

America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.

Allen Ginsberg
Everybody's serious but me.

Everybody's serious but me.

Allen Ginsberg
We are great writers on the same dreadful typewriter

We are great writers on the same dreadful typewriter

Allen Ginsberg
It isn't enough for your heart to break because everybody's heart is broken now.

It isn't enough for your heart to break because everybody's heart is broken now.

Allen Ginsberg
I never dreamed the sea so deep,
The earth so dark; so long my sleep,
I have become another child.
I wake to see the world go wild.

I never dreamed the sea so deep, The earth so dark; so long my sleep, I have become another child. I wake to see the world go wild.

Allen Ginsberg
Just because I like to suck cock doesn't make me any less American than Jesse Helms.

Just because I like to suck cock doesn't make me any less American than Jesse Helms.

Allen Ginsberg
What peaches and what penumbras! Whole families shopping at night! Aisles full of husbands! Wives in the avocados, babies in the tomatoes!--and you, Garcia Lorca, what were you doing down by the watermelons?

What peaches and what penumbras! Whole families shopping at night! Aisles full of husbands! Wives in the avocados, babies in the tomatoes!--and you, Garcia Lorca, what were you doing down by the watermelons?

Allen Ginsberg
Poets are damned… but see with the eyes of angels.

Poets are damned… but see with the eyes of angels.

Allen Ginsberg
My own experience is that a certain kind of genius among students is best brought out in bed.

My own experience is that a certain kind of genius among students is best brought out in bed.

Allen Ginsberg
I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the supermarket and feel absurd.

I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the supermarket and feel absurd.

Allen Ginsberg
With dreams, with drugs, with waking nightmares, alcohol and cock and endless balls

With dreams, with drugs, with waking nightmares, alcohol and cock and endless balls

Allen Ginsberg
What sphinx of cement and aluminium bashed open their skulls and ate up their brains and imagination

What sphinx of cement and aluminium bashed open their skulls and ate up their brains and imagination

Allen Ginsberg
To gain your own voice, forget about having it heard. Become a saint of your own province and your own consciousness.

To gain your own voice, forget about having it heard. Become a saint of your own province and your own consciousness.

Allen Ginsberg
Which way will the sunflower turn surrounded by millions of suns?

Which way will the sunflower turn surrounded by millions of suns?

Allen Ginsberg
To gain your own voice you have to forget about having it heard.

To gain your own voice you have to forget about having it heard.

Allen Ginsberg
America, why are your libraries full of tears?

America, why are your libraries full of tears?

Allen Ginsberg