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Quote by William S. Burroughs

“If you weren't surprised by your life you wouldn't be alive. Life is surprise.”

Quote by William S. Burroughs

Book:Burroughs Live: The Collected Interviews of William S. Burroughs, 1960-1997

Work

Burroughs Live: The Collected Interviews of William S. Burroughs, 1960-1997

Burroughs Live offers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential figures in modern literature. The interviews, conducted between 1960 and 1997, cover a wide range of topics, from Burroughs' creative process to his views on society and culture. This collection is essential for anyone interested in the work and life of William S. Burroughs. more

Author

William S. Burroughs

William S. Burroughs was an American novelist known for his unique writing style and his significant influence on postmodern literature. His works often involve social criticism, political satire, and surrealistic elements. more

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“Jesus Christ said 'by their fruits ye shall know them,' not by their disclaimers.”

Knows Said Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Fruit Disclaimers

Author:William S. Burroughs

“Criminal law is one of the few professions where the client buys someone else's luck. The luck of most people is strictly non-transferrable. But a good criminal lawyer can sell all his luck to a client, and the more luck he sells the more he has to sell.”

People Law Luck Sells Profession Criminals Lawyer Clients Criminal Law

Author:William S. Burroughs

“As the global expansion of Indian and Chinese restaurants suggests, xenophobia is directed against foreign people, not foreign cultural imports.”

People Racism Chinese Indian Restaurants Expansion Xenophobia Imports

Author:Eric Hobsbawm

“Take a shot in front of D.L. Probing for a vein in my dirty bare foot... Junkies have no shame... They are impervious to the repugnance of others. It is doubtful if shame can exist in the absence of sexual libido... The junky's shame disappears with his nonsexual sociability which is also dependent on libido.”

Ifs Feet Fronts Shots Shame Disappear Absence Dirty Dependent Veins Doubtful Junkie Sociability Impervious Probing Bare Feet Libido

Book:Naked Lunch: The Restored Text

Source: Naked Lunch: The Restored Text

“All abilities are paid for with disabilities. perfect health may entail the heavy toll of bovine stupidity. insight into one area involves blind spots in another.”

May Done Pain Voice Ability Perfect Honesty Areas Paid Blind Heavy Insight Stupidity Spots Loud Disability Cried Mathematician Gifted Physicist Tolls Blind Spots Loud Voices Bovine

Author:William S. Burroughs

“I think anybody incapable of changing his mind is crazy.”

Thinking Mind Crazy Incapable

Author:William S. Burroughs

“I do spend a great deal of time alone. I'm not very gregarious. I don't like parties and miscellaneous gatherings with no particular purpose. I think parties are largely a mistake. The bigger they are the more mistaken they are.”

Thinking Purpose Deals Party Mistake Particular Bigger Mistaken Gathering Miscellaneous Me Alone Alone Time Gregarious

Author:William S. Burroughs

“The simplest questions are the most difficult.”

Difficult Answers Discovery Finding Yourself Simplest Know Yourself Messiah Discovering The World

Author:William S. Burroughs

“Like pregnant women lose their teeth feeding the stranger, junkies lose their yellow fangs feeding the monkey.”

Loses Stranger Teeth Yellow Pregnant Monkeys Feeding Fangs Junkie Pregnant Women

Book:Naked Lunch: The Restored Text

Source: Naked Lunch: The Restored Text

“Nobody's busting into YOUR apartment at three in the morning, are they? Well, then don't worry about what they're doing in South Korea and places like that. It's like the standard of living. Are you content to achieve your higher standard of living at the expense of people all over the world who've got a lower standard of living? Most Americans would say yes. Now we ask the question, are you content to enjoy your political freedom at the expense of people who are less free? I think they would also say yes.”