When Hunter Stockton Thompson was born--July 18, 1937--he had no idea he would become one of the greatest writers of all time and the founder of Gonzo journalism--a form of journalism that blurred the distinction between fantasy and reality.
Thinking of Hunter S. Thompson can sweep you into a psychedelic, LSD-inspired alternate universe. That's because he did more drugs in a week than many people could handle in a lifetime.
But there was much more to Thompson than what the stoner kid saw watching Johnny Depp's portrayal of Raoul Duke in Universal's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas movie, inspired by H.S.T's book.
If you're ready for a trip, let's dive in.
Skip our thoughts on Hunter S. Thompson and jump straight to his quotes.
Hunter S. Thompson: A True American Hero
Hunter S. Thompson was a visionary, a writer, and an icon of romanticized rebellion. Thompson created a new and revolutionary writing genre by mixing poetry, prose and Gonzo journalism. His best-known works include Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Rum Diary, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, The Curse of Lono, and Screwjack.
Beyond his cultural persona that amalgamated the ethos of beatniks and bikers, Hunter S. Thompson was a political junkie. He ran for Sheriff of Aspen and was the author of Fear and Loathing: On The Campaign Trail '72--illustrated by Ralph Steadman--recounting and covering Richard Nixon's presidential campaign.
Hunter S. Thompson was politically outspoken and always up for a good fight.
Thompson's freethinking and unconventional views made it challenging to lump him into one political category. Liberals and conservatives offered him just as much praise as they made criticism.
Hunter S. Thompson was a larger-than-life character who was impossible to dismiss because of conflicting political opinions and ideologies. People gravitated to his devotion, attitude, conviction, and spirit of defiance. It's safe to say he was loved more than hated.
Thompson's energy and charisma forced you to see all the good he was.
Liberals liked Thompson because he encompassed the free-spirited 60's countercultural ethos that embraced rebellion, social revolution and breaking away from the political status quo. In addition to his support for privacy and marijuana legalization, they admired his fight against hardline conservatism and his penchant for hating Richard Nixon.
Leftists and socialists tipped their fedoras to Thompson for his praise of the International Workers of the World. In a 1965 letter to a friend, he wrote, "I believe the IWW was probably the last human concept in American politics." (For those who don't know, the IWW, nicknamed "the Wobblies," is an international labor union representing thousands of industrial workers.)
Thompson sometimes wore Che Guevara t-shirts, and Benicio del Toro claimed he had a large Che picture hanging in his kitchen. Thompson admired revolutionaries and socialist philosophers, comparing Karl Marx to Thomas Jefferson. Though one could think of Thompson as a hedonistic anarchist, he criticized materialism and crony capitalism and supported democratic institutions and nominees.
One might paint Hunter S. Thompson as a poster boy for the left. But, to the surprise of many, Thompson also earned favor among the right wing of American politics.
Conservatives, libertarians and Republicans appreciated Hunter S. Thompson's vocal support of the Second Amendment and gun liberty. Thompson was a fervent proponent of the right to bear arms and had a stockpile of semi-automatic and automatic rifles and guns in his home at Owl Farm in Woody Creek, Colorado.
Thompson was a National Rifle Association (NRA) member, and his uproarious support for the Second Amendment made his name synonymous with gun advocacy. Warning signs leading to his Colorado home read, "guns in constant use."
Along with many of the reasons liberals liked him, libertarians resonated with Thompson and his commitment to freedom and free speech. Though he's not often associated with the Libertarian Party, Hunter S. Thompson embodied the libertarian spirit. (He ran for local office on a Libertarian platform once.)
Though Thompson was labeled as an "eccentric," a "drug-crazed hippie," and a "mad man," he had a softness to his soul and a golden authenticity about him that people adored. He hated crooks, bullies, liars and hypocrites. He rejected tyranny, despots and demagogues. (Is that why he hated George W. Bush so much?)
If you wanted to be on Hunter S. Thompson's shit list, all you had to do was seek power and cruel authority over others.
Part of the allure of Hunter S. Thompson was that he was, indeed, a bit of a lunatic, but he was also a genius in his own rank.
There was something every political demographic loved and hated about Hunter S. Thompson, which made him great. He didn't care who he offended. Thompson lived his life in complete celebration of individuality.
That's what I loved about Hunter S. Thompson. He was a dreamer, a poet, and a courageous rebel who never kowtowed to anyone. Indeed, we can't agree with every political stance Thompson took, but we can appreciate his ardent individuality and show reverence for his creative contributions to artistic society.
Hunter S. Thompson was one of my favorite writers. His style and creativity were unlike any other. His writings will live forever in the hearts of outcasts, outlaws, romantics, lovers and individuals. Today we celebrate Thompson by remembering some of his greatest quotes. Here, we have listed the best 28 Hunter S. Thompson quotes.
Hunter S. Thompson Quotes
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In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.
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I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours.
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We cannot expect people to have respect for law and order until we teach respect to those we have entrusted to enforce those laws.
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Freedom is something that dies unless it's used.
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We can't stop here, this is bat country!
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There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.
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It was obvious that he was a man who marched through life to the rhythms of some drum I would never hear.
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Walk tall, kick ass, learn to speak Arabic, love music and never forget you come from a long line of truth seekers, lovers and warriors.
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Weird behavior is natural in smart children, like curiosity is to a kitten.
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Buy the ticket, take the ride!
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I'm a relatively respectable citizen. Multiple felon perhaps, but certainly not dangerous.
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A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.
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Let us toast to animal pleasures, to escapism, to rain on the roof and instant coffee, to unemployment insurance and library cards, to absinthe and good-hearted landlords, to music and warm bodies and contraceptives... and to the "good life", whatever it is and wherever it happens to be.
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If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up.
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I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
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With the truth so dull and depressing, the only working alternative is wild bursts of madness and filigree.
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Sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whiskey and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind but falling in love and not getting arrested.
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In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely.
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Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.
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The highways are crowded with people who drive as if their sole purpose in getting behind the wheel is to avenge every wrong done them by man, beast or fate. The only thing that keeps them in line is their fear of death, jail and lawsuits.
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No, this is not a good town for psychedelic drugs. Reality itself is too twisted.
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Morality is temporary, wisdom is permanent.
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We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world—bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully. We are not just Whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts.
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Pray to God, but row away from the rocks.
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Never turn your back on fear. It should always be in front of you, like a thing that might have to be killed.
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow what a ride!”
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When the going gets weird, the weird turn professional.
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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.
Bonus Quote: This is believed to be Hunter S. Thompson's final quote. Four days after he wrote it, he succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
"No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun — for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax — This won't hurt."
There you have it, folks, our tribute to the great Hunter S. Thompson. May he rest in peace and forever be remembered by all the weirdos and outcasts of society.
If you enjoyed reading this, you may also like "27 George Carlin Quotes for Freethinkers and Rebels."
