Portrait of Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg

Howl, Beat poet

Modern influential 268 sayings

Sayings by Allen Ginsberg

The only way to be truly alive is to embrace your own mortality.

1980s — Interview
Life & Death Unverifiable

I am a dream, and I am a nightmare, and I am a fantasy, and I am a reality, and I am a myth, and I am a legend.

1950s — Journal entry
Inspirational Unverifiable

The universe is a dance, and we are all dancers in it.

1990s — Speech
Wisdom Unverifiable

I'm a great believer in the power of silence, and the power of stillness, and the power of contemplation.

1980s — Interview
Inspirational Unverifiable

The only way to find peace is to embrace your own chaos.

1980s — Interview
Wisdom Unverifiable

I am a question, and I am an answer, and I am a problem, and I am a solution, and I am a cause, and I am an effect.

1950s — Journal entry
Wisdom Unverifiable

I'm a great believer in the power of humor, and the power of laughter, and the power of joy.

1980s — Interview
Inspirational Unverifiable

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix.

1956 — From 'Howl', his most famous poem
Life & Death Confirmed

America I’ve given you all and now I’m nothing.

1956 — From 'America', a satirical poem
Wisdom Confirmed

Holy the groaning saxophone! Holy the bop apocalypse! Holy the jazzbands marijuana hipsters peace & junk & drums!

1956 — From 'Footnote to Howl', an ecstatic continuation of 'Howl'
Biblical Unverifiable

I’m not afraid to say what I mean. That’s why I’m a poet.

1965 — Interview remark on censorship
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

Moloch! Solitude! Filth! Ugliness! Ashcans and unobtainable dollars!

1955 — Howl
General Unverifiable

I'm a Buddhist. I'm a Jew. I'm a Communist. I'm a homosexual. I'm an old man. I'm a young man. I'm a woman. I'm a child. I'm a black man. I'm a white man. I'm an American. I'm a Russian. I'm a Chinese. I'm a Martian. I'm a dog. I'm a cat. I'm a tree. I'm a flower. I'm a rock. I'm a river. I'm a mountain. I'm a star. I'm a galaxy. I'm a universe. I'm a god. I'm a devil. I'm nothing. I'm everything.

1966 — Interview with The Paris Review
Political Unverifiable

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.

Unknown — Attributed, often linked to Oscar Wilde but Ginsberg used it.
General Unverifiable

Put your queer shoulder to the wheel.

1966 — Telegram to Ed Sanders, 1966, encouraging political action.
General Unverifiable

I don't think there's any such thing as obscenity. I think it's a social invention.

1960s — Interview
General Unverifiable

To be a poet in a time of great stress, you have to be a prophet.

1980s — Interview
General Unverifiable

The only thing that can save the world is the return of the feminine principle, the return of the goddess.

1970s — Interview
Social & Racial Unverifiable

My own mind is a dangerous neighborhood.

Unknown — Attributed
General Unverifiable

If you don't have a story, you're not a human being. You're just a collection of cells.

1990s — Interview
General Unverifiable
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