Timothy Leary

LSD advocate, turn on tune in drop out

Contemporary weird famous 129 sayings

Sayings by Timothy Leary

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.

1960s-1970s — Known quote, often attributed to his philosophy of embracing new experiences.
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You are a God. Act like one.

1960s-1970s — A central tenet of his 'turn on, tune in, drop out' philosophy, emphasizing individual divinity.
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Tune in, turn on, drop out.

1966 — His most famous phrase, often misunderstood. 'Tune in' meant to become aware of your own consciousne…
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I consider myself a cybernetic philosopher.

1980s — From an interview discussing his evolving identity and focus on technology.
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I think I'm a futurist. I'm always looking for the next thing.

1980s-1990s — Reflecting his constant search for new frontiers, whether internal or external.
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My advice to people today is as follows: if you have a problem with the legal system, there are two ways to go. You can go to court, or you can go to your head.

1970s-1980s — From a lecture or interview, highlighting his preference for internal solutions over external ones.
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The most important thing to do in your life is to expand your consciousness.

1960s-1990s — A foundational belief throughout his career, often linked to psychedelic exploration.
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You are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Analyze your life in terms of its environment. Are the things around you helping you toward your goals or hindering you?

1964 — From 'The Psychedelic Experience,' a more practical self-help perspective.
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The revolution has not been televised. It has been psychedelicized.

1970s — A play on the Gil Scott-Heron song, emphasizing the internal nature of his revolution.
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I am a futurist. I don't want to go back in time. I want to go forward.

1980s-1990s — Repeatedly expressed his forward-looking perspective.
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I'm a great believer in the future. I believe that we can make a better world.

1980s-1990s — Despite his controversial methods, he held an optimistic view of humanity's potential.
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The greatest discovery of my life has been the discovery of the infinite nature of human consciousness.

1960s-1990s — Summarizing his life's work and the impact of psychedelics on his understanding of the mind.
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I am an information artist. I am a communication artist.

1990s — From an interview in his later years, embracing a broader artistic identity.
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If you don't like what you're doing, then don't do it.

1960s-1970s — A simple yet radical call for individual autonomy and self-determination.
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There are no mistakes, only lessons.

1970s-1980s — A common New Age sentiment, but one he espoused in his own way.
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I'm not a guru. I'm a provocateur.

1970s-1980s — Distancing himself from spiritual leadership while embracing his role as a challenger of norms.
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The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.

N/A (Wilde quote, Leary's application) — A quote from Oscar Wilde, which Leary sometimes used to justify his own explorations, albeit with a …
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You're either on the bus or off the bus.

1960s — Often associated with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, but Leary also used this phrase to describ…
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I'm a performance artist. I'm a stand-up philosopher.

1980s-1990s — Further defining his role as an entertainer and intellectual provocateur.
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Don't bite the hand that feeds you, but if you do, make sure you bite it off.

1970s — A more aggressive, rebellious sentiment, reflecting his anti-establishment stance.
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