“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”Hunter S. Thompson
WeirdnessFamous Lines
Hunter S. Thompson Quotes
American - Journalist|July 18, 1937 - February 20, 2005
50 FAMOUS QUOTES · JOURNALIST
Hunter S. Thompson Quotes
Read 50 of the best Hunter S. Thompson quotes on weirdness, freedom, journalism, luck and choosing your way of life from the father of Gonzo journalism.
“Buy the ticket, take the ride.”Hunter S. Thompson
CommitmentAdventure
“Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”Hunter S. Thompson
IndividualityFear And Loathing
“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.”Hunter S. Thompson
Living BoldlyShort Quotes
“Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?”Hunter S. Thompson
“A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.”Hunter S. Thompson
DecisionsProcrastination
“Beware of looking for goals: look for a way of life. Decide how you want to live and then see what you can do to make a living within that way of life.”Hunter S. Thompson
PurposeCareer
“He has not dedicated his life to reaching a pre-defined goal, but he has rather chosen a way of life he knows he will enjoy.”Hunter S. Thompson
HappinessChoices
“To put our faith in tangible goals would seem to be, at best, unwise.”Hunter S. Thompson
GoalsWisdom
“As long as I'm learning something, I figure I'm OK; it's a decent day.”Hunter S. Thompson
LearningGrowth
“The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.”Hunter S. Thompson
RiskExperience
“Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it.”Hunter S. Thompson
LuckBalance
“Freedom is something that dies unless it's used.”Hunter S. Thompson
FreedomAction
“Truth is weirder than any fiction I've seen.”Hunter S. Thompson
TruthFiction
“I learned a long time ago that reality was much weirder than anyone's imagination.”Hunter S. Thompson
RealityImagination
“Fiction is based on reality unless you're a fairytale artist.”Hunter S. Thompson
WritingFiction
“The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it.”Hunter S. Thompson
LifeHumour
“Yesterday's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why.”Hunter S. Thompson
ChangeWisdom
“I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours.”Hunter S. Thompson
TruthWork
“Good news is rare these days, and every glittering ounce of it should be cherished and hoarded and worshipped and fondled like a priceless diamond.”Hunter S. Thompson
Good NewsGratitude
“A word to the wise is infuriating.”Hunter S. Thompson
WitShort Quotes
“If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up.”Hunter S. Thompson
HumourWork
"Crazy" is a term of art; "Insane" is a term of law. Remember that, and you will save yourself a lot of trouble.”Hunter S. Thompson
LanguageHumour
“Paranoia is just another word for ignorance.”Hunter S. Thompson
IgnoranceFear
“There is no such thing as paranoia. Your worst fears can come true at any moment.”Hunter S. Thompson
FearWit
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About Hunter S. Thompson
American - Journalist | July 18, 1937 - February 20, 2005
Hunter S. Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author, born in Louisville, Kentucky. After working as a sportswriter in the U.S. Air Force and as a reporter in the Caribbean and South America, he gained fame with *Hell's Angels* (1966), a book based on a year spent with the notorious motorcycle club.
Thompson created "Gonzo journalism," a wild first-person style in which the writer becomes part of the story, beginning with his 1970 article "The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved." His best-known works include *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* and *Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72*, written for *Rolling Stone*. Known for his rebellious, larger-than-life personality, he even ran for sheriff in Aspen, Colorado. He died at his home in Woody Creek, Colorado, in 2005. Here are 50 of the best Hunter S. Thompson quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hunter S. Thompson and these famous quotes.
Who was Hunter S. Thompson?
Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist and author best known for *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* and for creating Gonzo journalism. He wrote for *Rolling Stone* and became a counterculture icon.
What is Gonzo journalism?
Gonzo journalism is a style of reporting in which the writer becomes a central character in the story, mixing facts with personal experience, humour and exaggeration. Thompson pioneered it with his 1970 article on the Kentucky Derby.
What is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?
*Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* (1971) is Thompson's most famous book, a wild semi-fictional account of a trip to Las Vegas that satirises the American Dream. It was made into a 1998 film starring Johnny Depp.
What is Hunter S. Thompson's famous letter about life?
In 1958, at age 22, Thompson wrote a letter to his friend Hume Logan advising him not to chase fixed goals but to "look for a way of life" and then find a way to make a living within it. The letter is now widely shared as life advice.
Did Thompson say "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench"?
Not exactly. He wrote that line about the TV business, describing it as a "cruel and shallow money trench" in journalism. Over time it was misquoted as being about the music industry.
Did Hunter S. Thompson run for office?
Yes. In 1970 he ran for sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado, on the "Freak Power" ticket. He lost narrowly but the campaign became a famous part of his legend.