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Thomas de Quincey Quotes

Essayist

Thomas de Quincey was an English essayist and critic, renowned for his personal experiences and philosophical reflections on opium. His work 'On the Use and Abuse of Opium' is one of the most famous autobiographical essays of the 19th century and has had a profound impact on literature and psychology.

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Famous Thomas de Quincey Quotes

“Opium! dread agent of unimaginable pleasure and pain! I had heard of it as I had of manna or of ambrosia, but no further. How unmeaning a sound was it at that time: what solemn chords does it now strike upon my heart! What heart-quaking vibrations of sad and happy remembrances!”

Pain Pleasure Opium Hedonism

Book:Confessions of an English Opium Eater

Source: Confessions of an English Opium Eater

“For my own part, without breach of truth or modesty, I may affirm, that my life has been, on the whole, the life of a philosopher: from my birth I was made an intellectual creature: and intellectual in the highest sense my pursuits and pleasures have been, even from my school-boy days. If opium-eating be a sensual pleasure, and if I am bound to confess that I have indulged in it to an excess, not yet recorded of any other man, it is no less true, that I have struggled against this fascinating enthralment with a religious zeal, and have, at length, accomplished what I never yet heard attributed to any other man - have untwisted, almost to its final links, the accursed chain which fettered me. Such a self-conquest may reasonably be set off in counterbalance to any kind of degree of self-indulgence.”

Dignity Opium Thomas De Quincey Drug Habits Self Controll

Author:Thomas de Quincey

“Thou hast the keys of Paradise, oh, just, subtle, and mighty opium!”

Keys Drug Paradise Subtle Opium Medicinal Herbs

Author:Thomas de Quincey

“Nobody will laugh long who deals much with opium: its pleasures even are of a grave and solemn complexion.”

Long Pleasure Deals Laughing Graves Solemn Opium Complexion

Book:Confessions of an English Opium-Eater and Other Writings

Source: Confessions of an English Opium-Eater and Other Writings

About the Author

Born: August 15, 1785
Died: December 8, 1859
Known for: Essayist
Quotes: 90

Books & Sources

Confessions of an English Opium EaterRelated source material

Delphi Complete Works of Thomas De Quincey (Illustrated)Related source material

De Quincey's Writings: Essays on philosophical writers and other men of letters. 1854-60. [v. 14 stereotypedRelated source material

De Quincey's Writings: Miscellaneous essays. 1851Related source material

Confessions of an English Opium Eater: Being an Extract from the Life of a ScholarRelated source material

Confessions of an English Opium-Eater & Other WritingsRelated source material

Confessions of an English Opium-Eater: Being an Extract from the Life of a ScholarRelated source material

De Quincey's Writings: Theological essays and other papers. 1854Related source material

De Quincey's worksRelated source material

Leaders in literatureRelated source material

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