QuoteProject
Marijuana is rejected all over the world. Damned. In England heroin is alright for out-patents, but marijuana? They'll put your ass in jail. I wonder why that is? The only reason could be: To Serve the Devil - Pleasure! Pleasure, which is a dirty word in Christian culture.
Lenny Bruce
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques the inconsistent societal views on substances like marijuana and heroin, highlighting hypocrisy in cultural attitudes toward pleasure.

Lenny Bruce's quote reflects a profound criticism of societal and cultural attitudes towards drug use, specifically contrasting the acceptance of substances like heroin for medical uses with the harsh penalties levied against marijuana. It suggests that the condemnation of marijuana stems from a deeper societal discomfort with pleasure, particularly within the framework of Christian moral values, thereby questioning the underlying motives behind such legal distinctions and cultural judgments.

Themes

MarijuanaPleasureHypocrisySocietyCulture

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used during a discussion on drug policy reform.

More from Lenny Bruce

The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake it... try to fake three laughs in an hour - ha ha ha ha ha - they'll take you away, man. You can't.
Lenny BruceRead
If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little electric chairs around their necks instead of crosses.
Lenny BruceRead
I'm not a comedian. I'm Lenny Bruce.
Lenny BruceRead
I'll die young, but it's like kissing God.
Lenny BruceRead
All my humor is based on destruction and despair. If the whole world were tranquil, without disease and violence, I'd be standing in the bread line - right in back of J. Edgar Hoover.
Lenny BruceRead
In the Halls of Justice the only justice is in the halls.
Lenny BruceRead

Similar quotes

In the midst of death life persists, in the midst of untruth, truth persists, in the midst of darkness light persists.
Mahatma GandhiRead
The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world.
Thomas JeffersonRead
The question is very understandable, but no one has found a satisfactory answer to it so far. Yes, why do they make still more gigantic planes, still heavier bombs and, at the same time, prefabricated houses for reconstruction? Why should millions be spent daily on the war and yet there's not a penny available for medical services, artists, or for poor people? Why do some people have to starve, while there are surpluses rotting in other parts of the world? Oh, why are people so crazy?
Anne FrankRead
The kingly office is entitled to no respect. It was originally procured by the highwayman's methods. It remains a perpetuated crime, can never be anything but the symbol of a crime. It is no more entitled to respect than is the flag of a pirate.
Mark TwainRead
Down in the city are the nice houses and the so-so houses and the lovers making out in dark yards and the babies crying for their moms, and I wonder if, other than Jesus, has this ever happened before. Maybe it happens all the time. Maybe there's angry dead all over, hiding in rooms, covered with blankets, bossing around their scared, embarrassed relatives. Because how would we know?
George SaundersRead
People must have righteous principals in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.
Martin LutherRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.