Allen Ginsberg

Howl, Beat poet

Modern influential 268 sayings

Sayings by Allen Ginsberg

The human race is a virus with shoes.

1990 — Interview on environmental destruction.
Controversial Unverifiable

Democracy is a fraud perpetrated by the rich.

1968 — Speech on class inequality.
Controversial Unverifiable

America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel.

1956 — From the poem 'America'
Shocking Unverifiable

Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb.

1956 — From the poem 'America', addressing the nation
Shocking Unverifiable

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

Undated, but likely post-1970s when Helms became prominent — Quote about his sexuality and American identity
Shocking Unverifiable

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

Undated, likely 1960s-1970s — General statement on genius and sexuality
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Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather boa!

Undated — Expressing disdain for a certain concept of democracy
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Blessed be He in homosexuality! Blessed be He in Paranoia! Blessed be He in the city! Blessed be He in the Book!

1960 — From 'Kaddish', a prayer for his mother, incorporating controversial elements into a blessing
Shocking Unverifiable

One time I thought she was trying to make me come lay her -- flirting to herself at sink -- lay back on huge bed that filled most of the room, dress up round her hips, big slash of hair...

1960 — From 'Kaddish', recounting a disturbing perception of his mother's behavior during her mental illnes…
Shocking Unverifiable

The actual experience of the smoked herb has been clouded by a fog of dirty language perpetrated by a crowd of fakers who have not had the experience and yet insist on downgrading it.

1966 — From 'The Great Marijuana Hoax: First Manifesto to End The Bringdown', defending marijuana use
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What it finally boils down to is that the fear is not about the drugs but about the police.

1971 — During a 1971 NPR debate with his father about marijuana decriminalization
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Marijuana is a useful catalyst for specific optical and aural aesthetic perceptions.

1966 — From 'The Great Marijuana Hoax: First Manifesto to End The Bringdown'
Shocking Unverifiable

I smoked marijuana every chance I get.

1956 — From the poem 'America'
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fortunately all governments will fall the only ones which won't fall are the good ones and the good ones don't yet exist

Undated — General statement on governments
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who let themselves be fucked in the ass by saintly motorcyclists, and screamed with joy,

1956 — From 'Howl', describing sexual encounters
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who blew and were blown by those human seraphim, the sailors, caresses of Atlantic and Caribbean love,

1956 — From 'Howl', describing sexual encounters
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who balled in the morning in the evenings in rosegardens and the grass of public parks and cemeteries scattering their semen freely to whomever come who may,

1956 — From 'Howl', describing public sexual encounters
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Moloch whose blood is running money! Moloch whose fingers are ten armies! Moloch whose breast is a cannibal dynamo!

1956 — From 'Howl', Part II, further defining Moloch
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Moloch whose love is endless oil and stone! Moloch whose soul is electricity and banks! Moloch whose poverty is the specter of genius! Moloch whose fate is a cloud of sexless hydrogen! Moloch whose name is the Mind!

1956 — From 'Howl', Part II, further defining Moloch and its societal impact
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Crazy in Moloch! Cocksucker in Moloch! Lacklove and manless in Moloch!

1956 — From 'Howl', Part II, personal identification with the destructive forces of Moloch
Shocking Unverifiable