Nobody saves America by sniffing cocaine. Jiggling your knees blankeyed in the rain, when it snows in your nose you catch cold in your brain.
Interpretation
Personal responsibility and action are essential for change, not passive behavior.
This quote by Allen Ginsberg highlights the futility of inaction and escapism when it comes to addressing societal issues. He emphasizes that substance abuse and passive behavior will not lead to any meaningful change or salvation for America; rather, it suggests that individuals need to take an active role in confronting challenges instead of succumbing to distractions or indulgences.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming addiction, you might use this quote to emphasize the importance of active change.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of the night.
Marijuana is a useful catalyst for specific optical and aural aesthetic perceptions. I apprehended the structure of certain pieces of jazz and classical music in a new manner under the influence of marijuana, and these apprehensions have remained valid in years of normal consciousness.
Many seek and never see, anyone can tell them why. O they weep and O they cry and never take until they try unless they try it in their sleep and never some until they die. I ask many, they ask me. This is a great mystery.
What if someone gave a war and Nobody came?
Fortunately art is a community effort - a small but select community living in a spiritualized world endeavoring to interpret the wars and the solitudes of the flesh.
Sometime I’ll lay down my wrath, As I lay my body down Between the ache of breath and breath, Golden slumber in the bone.
Every person passing through this life will unknowingly leave something and take something away. Most of this “something” cannot be seen or heard or numbered or scientifically detected or counted. It’s what we leave in the minds of other people and what they leave in ours. Memory. The census doesn’t count it. Nothing counts without it.
When men understand what each other mean, they see, for the most part, that controversy is either superfluous or hopeless
It is in justice that the ordering of society is centered.
Every crime destroys more Edens than our own
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
To a profound pessimist about life, being in danger is not depressing.
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