“The traditional dictionary definition of the difference is that an alcoholic will steal your wallet in a blackout, come to, and apologize for it. A junkie will steal your wallet and then help you look for it. But ultimately I think all addictions boil down to just not being able to be with yourself for any long degree of time.” ThinkingLooksLongHelpingAbleDifferencesDegreesAddictionDefinitionsStealingTraditionalApologizingAlcoholicsDictionaryJunkieWalletsBlackouts Author:Jerry Stahl
“I think there's a phenomenon of people who want to be around something that seems "dangerous." It makes them feel more real.” PeopleThinkingWantFeelsRealSeemsDangerousPhenomenon Author:Jerry Stahl
“My own theory is that people are just so desperate for somebody they can feel better than, in America. Now that everyone's going broke and working 17 jobs - if they have one at all - at least they can look at these guys behind bars and think, "At least I get to wear my own clothes to work."” PeopleIfsThinkingFeelsLooksJobsAmericaGuyMy OwnBehindsTheoryClothesBarsBrokeDesperateFeel Better Author:Jerry Stahl
“I think it's just too kinda juicy and compelling to imagine people in their private lives, but then half the time people's private lives are just so much more bizarre and Ted Haggard-like than you could ever imagine. It's almost hard to write fiction anymore.” PeopleThinkingWritingHardHalfFictionImagineCompellingBizarrePrivate LifeJuicyHaggard Author:Jerry Stahl
“If you're here for four more years or four more weeks, you're here right now. I think when you're somewhere, you ought to be there. It's not about how long you stay in a place, it's about what you do while you're there, and when you go, is that place any better for your having been there?” IfsThinkingYearsLongFourWeekOughtRight NowExposure Author:Jerry Stahl
“You may think you don't want to throw your life away for mere fleeting euphoria. But, once you get a taste, it doesn't feel so mere. From then on the planet becomes a waiting room. The rest of your life devolves to no more than the time between highs.” ThinkingWantFeelsMayWaitingRoomsPlanetsTasteMereFleetingRest Of Your LifeEuphoriaWaiting Rooms Author:Jerry Stahl
“This is what I think: If you had the nerve to live what you lived, you should have the nerve to write it.” IfsThinkingShouldWritingShould HaveNerves Author:Jerry Stahl
“I think that a lot of people are in love with stress. It's the dirty little secret of Western civilization. People often mistake stress for fuel.... to me, stress is just another bad drug that I don't want to do.” PeopleThinkingWantLittlesSecretMistakeCivilizationDrugStressWesternDirtyFuelWestern Civilization Author:Jerry Stahl
