Aleister Crowley

Occultist, Writer

Aleister Crowley was an influential occultist and writer known for his work in Thelema and the exploration of magic and individual will.

Born
October 12, 1875
Died
December 1, 1947
Quotes
197
Rank
#392

About Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley — Life and Legacy

Aleister Crowley, often dubbed 'the wickedest man in the world', was a prominent figure in the early 20th-century occult movement. His most significant contribution, 'The Book of the Law', introduced the philosophy of Thelema, which centers on the idea that individuals should follow their true will. Crowley's key ideas challenge conventional morality and advocate for personal freedom, as seen in his famous declaration, 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law'. This quote encapsulates his belief in the primacy of individual will over societal norms. Crowley's worldview was complex, intertwining elements of mysticism, psychology, and personal liberation. He viewed magic not merely as a supernatural practice but as a means of self-actualization and transformation. His assertion that 'Every man and woman is a star' reflects his conviction that each person has a unique path and purpose. By promoting the exploration of one's inner self, Crowley encouraged a radical rethinking of identity and morality. Today, Crowley's quotes and ideas continue to resonate, particularly within modern spiritual and psychological discourse. His emphasis on self-discovery and authenticity challenges readers to confront societal constraints and embrace their individuality, making his work relevant in contemporary discussions of personal freedom and self-expression.

Quote collection

Aleister Crowley quotes (page 1 of 10)

197 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Aleister Crowley Occultist, Writer
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"A man who is doing his True Will has the inertia of the Universe to assist him."

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Aleister Crowley Occultist, Writer
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"It is necessary that we stop, once for all, this ignorant meddling with other people's business. Each individual must be left free to follow his own path."

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"The joy of life consists in the exercise of one's energies, continual growth, constant change, the enjoyment of every new experience. To stop means simply to die. The eternal mistake of mankind is to set up an attainable ideal."

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"The Devil' is, historically, the God of any people that one personally dislikes... This serpent, SATAN, is not the enemy of Man, but He who made Gods of our race, knowing Good and Evil; He bade 'Know Thyself!' and taught Initiation. He is 'The Devil' of the Book of Thoth, and His emblem is BAPHOMET, the Androgyne who is the hieroglyph of arcane perfection... He is therefore Life, and Love."

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"My observation of the Universe convinces me that there are beings of intelligence and power of a far higher quality than anything we can conceive of as human; that they are not necessarily based on the cerebral and nervous structures that we know, and that the one and only chance for mankind to advance as a whole is for individuals to make contact with such beings."

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"We must conquer life by living it to the full, and then we can go to meet death with a certain prestige."

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Aleister Crowley Occultist, Writer
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"The supreme satisfaction is to be able to despise one's neighbor and this fact goes far to account for religious intolerance. It is evidently consoling to reflect that the people next door are headed for hell."

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Aleister Crowley Occultist, Writer
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"Sex is the sacred song of the soul; Sex is the sanctuary of Self."

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"Balance every thought with its opposition. Because the marriage of them is the destruction of illusion."

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"Every one interprets everything in terms of his own experience. If you say anything which does not touch a precisely similar spot in another man's brain, he either misunderstands you, or doesn't understand you at all."

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"There is a single main definition of the object of all magical Ritual. It is the uniting of the Microcosm with the Macrocosm. The Supreme and Complete Ritual is therefore the Invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel; or, in the language of Mysticism, Union with God."

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"If one were to take the bible seriously one would go mad. But to take the bible seriously, one must be already mad."

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Aleister Crowley Occultist, Writer
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"You can only accomplish your object in life by complete disregard of the opinions of other people."

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"Inevitably anyone with an independent mind must become 'one who resists or opposes authority or established conventions': a rebel. If enough people come to agree with, and follow, the Rebel, we now have a Devil. Until, of course, still more people agree. And then, finally, we have --- Greatness."

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Aleister Crowley Occultist, Writer
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"I was not content to believe in a personal devil and serve him, in the ordinary sense of the word. I wanted to get hold of him personally and become his chief of staff."

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"What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over."

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"I slept with faith and found a corpse in my arms on awakening; I drank and danced all night with doubt and found her a virgin in the morning."

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