Portrait of Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick

Science fiction, Do Androids Dream

Modern influential 124 sayings

Sayings by Philip K. Dick

The only way to find happiness is to stop looking for it. To live in the moment. To appreciate what you have.

1975 — Interview, 'Rolling Stone'
General Unverifiable

I'm not a fan of fame. I think it's a burden. It takes away your privacy. It makes you a commodity.

1977 — Speech at a science fiction convention
General Unverifiable

I think the most important thing in life is to have hope. To believe that things can get better. To never give up.

1981 — Interview, 'The New York Times'
General Unverifiable

The only way to truly live is to be willing to die. To embrace your mortality. To live each day as if it were your last.

1980 — Interview, 'The Paris Review'
Social & Racial Unverifiable

I'm not a fan of censorship. I think it's a dangerous thing. It's a way of controlling people's minds.

1975 — Interview, 'Science Fiction Studies'
Political Unverifiable

The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words.

1978 — How to Build a Universe That Doesn't Fall Apart Two Days Later
General Unverifiable

The greatest gift you can ever give another person is your own happiness.

1981 — VALIS
Food & Drink Unverifiable

Don't try to understand it. Just accept it. Or reject it. But don't try to understand it.

1977 — A Scanner Darkly
General Unverifiable

I'd rather be a cyborg than a god.

1979 — Interview with Charles Platt
General Unverifiable

The world is not a safe place. It's a dangerous place. And if you're not careful, you'll get eaten alive.

N/A — Interview, often expressed his paranoia and views on reality
Food & Drink Unverifiable

I'm not a prophet. I'm a writer. I write about what I see. And what I see is a lot of crazy stuff.

N/A — Interview, often humorously deflecting the 'prophet' label
General Unverifiable

Fake it till you make it. Act confident, even if you're not. Eventually, you'll become confident.

N/A — Attributed, often cited as a personal philosophy he espoused
General Unverifiable

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.

1977 — A Scanner Darkly
Food & Drink Unverifiable

I'm interested in people who are trying to figure out what's real and what's not.

N/A — Interview, a recurring theme in his work and personal life
General Unverifiable

The universe is a joke. And we're all part of it.

1981 — VALIS
General Unverifiable

I write about characters who are trying to survive in a world that's going crazy.

N/A — Interview, describing his common protagonist
General Unverifiable

The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed.

N/A (often cited mid-late 20th century) — Often attributed to him, though sometimes to William Gibson. Dick made similar statements about the …
General Unverifiable

I'm not crazy. I'm just ahead of my time.

N/A — Interview, a common self-defense he used
General Unverifiable

What is reality? It's a word. And we all know words are just sounds.

1969 — Ubik
General Unverifiable

I'm a paranoid writer. I write about my fears. And my fears are pretty wild.

N/A — Interview, acknowledging his own psychological state in his work
General Unverifiable
Your Cart

Your cart is empty