Be yourself on stage. Nobody else can be you and you have the law of supply and demand covered.
This is where we are at right now, as a whole. No one is left out of the loop. We are experiencing a reality based on a thin veneer of lies and illusions. A world where greed is our God and wisdom is sin, where division is key and unity is fantasy, where the ego-driven cleverness of the mind is praised, rather than the intelligence of the heart.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques modern society's focus on materialism and ego, suggesting that true wisdom and unity are lacking.
In this quote, Bill Hicks reflects on the current state of society, highlighting how superficial values and deceit have taken precedence over genuine wisdom and connection. He paints a picture of a world where greed dominates, division is rampant, and the superficial intelligence of the mind is idolized, overshadowing the deeper emotional intelligence that comes from the heart. Hicks calls for a recognition of these issues and a shift away from ego-driven pursuits towards a more heartfelt understanding of reality.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about social justice, one might use this quote to emphasize the need for honesty and unity in fighting inequality.
More from Bill Hicks
All quotes →I'm not into those kind of rivalries. I remember standing out in front of Stratford, minding my own business. Carload of about eighty kids would pull up: 'STRATFORD SUCKS!' Am I supposed to run after these guys? I'd just stand there, you know. They'd back up. 'STRATFORD SUCKS! ...STRATFORD SUCKS!' I'd say, 'I know. I go there. You're wasting gas, man.
I go to dance clubs...about once a year just to justify the other 364 days I spend in my apartment going 'God, what idiots!'
Why is marijuana against the law? It grows naturally on our planet, serves a thousand different functions, all of them positive. To make marijuana against the law is like saying that God made a mistake.
To make marijuana against the law is like saying God made a big mistake.
What do you say we lighten things up and talk about abortion?
Similar quotes
Better mad with the rest of the world than wise alone.
I believe in humanity. We are an incredible species. We're still just a child creature, we're still being nasty to each other. And all children go through those phases. We're growing up, we're moving into adolescence now. When we grow up - man, we're going to be something!
I tagged a first-timer one night at fight club. That Saturday night, a young guy with an angel’s face came to his first fight club, and I tagged him for a fight. That’s the rule. If it’s your first night in fight club, you have to fight. I knew that so I tagged him because the insomnia was on again, and I was in a mood to destroy something beautiful.
It was the same way with silence. This was more than silence. A deaf person can feel vibrations. Here there was nothing to feel.
Whatever you do, good or bad, people will always have something negative to say
Think how different human societies would be if they were based on love rather than justice. But no such societies have ever existed on earth.