I never took hallucinogenic drugs because I never wanted my consciousness expanded one unnecessary iota.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a skepticism towards substances that alter consciousness.
Fran Lebowitz's quote highlights her preference for a grounded reality over the altered perceptions that come from hallucinogenic drugs. She suggests that even the slightest expansion of consciousness is unnecessary for her, indicating a belief in the sufficiency of her natural state of mind.
In practice
During a discussion about substance use and its effects on perception.
Your responsibility as a parent is not as great as you might imagine. You need not supply the world with the next conqueror of disease or major motion picture star. If your child simply grows up to be someone who does not use the word "collectible" as a noun, you can consider yourself an unqualified success.
You should make it hard on yourself to write so youβre easier to read.
Special-interest publications should realize that if they are attracting enough advertising and readers to make a profit, the interest is not so special.
I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word - politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit.
I must take issue with the term 'a mere child,' for it has been my invariable experience that the company of a mere child is infinitely preferable to that of a mere adult.
Original thought is like original sin: both happened before you were born to people you could not have possibly met.
Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion.
Doubt is part of all religion. All the religious thinkers were doubters.
Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.
Whatever the misery, he could not regain contentment with a world which, once doubted, became absurd.
It is our very search, our lust for the miraculous and magical, that hides from us the truth that simply to be, simply to know I am, is already the miracle that we seek. Everything, as it is, is perfect, but you must stop seeing it as if in a mirror, as if in a dream.
What is it about childhood that never lets you go, even when you're so wrecked it's hard to believe you ever were a child?
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