Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg

Poet, Activist

Allen Ginsberg was a pivotal American poet known for his role in the Beat Generation and his influential work 'Howl', which challenged societal norms.

Writing People America Art Thinking Want
Born
June 3, 1926
Died
April 5, 1997
Quotes
165
Rank
#172

About Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg — Life and Legacy

Allen Ginsberg, a central figure of the Beat Generation, is renowned for his groundbreaking poetry that explores themes of freedom, truth, and personal struggle. His iconic work 'Howl' not only critiques the societal constraints of the 1950s but also serves as a raw reflection of his own experiences with mental health and sexuality. Ginsberg's quote, 'I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness,' encapsulates his deep concern for those marginalized by society, revealing his commitment to authenticity and social justice. Ginsberg's poetry often delves into the contradictions of human nature, as he grapples with the tension between societal expectations and personal truth. His vivid imagery and candid exploration of taboo subjects challenge readers to confront uncomfortable realities. For instance, his line about the 'best minds' highlights the tragic consequences of conformity and repression, urging a reevaluation of what it means to live freely. Today, Ginsberg's quotes resonate with those advocating for mental health awareness and social change, as they continue to inspire discussions about individuality and resistance against societal norms. His legacy endures through his fearless expression and unwavering pursuit of truth, making his work a vital part of contemporary discourse.

Quote collection

Allen Ginsberg quotes (page 1 of 9)

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

Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"…we’re all beautiful golden sunflowers inside, we’re all blessed by our own seed & golden hairy naked accomplishment (Sunflower Sutra)"

Beautiful Blessed Accomplishment
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"Which way will the sunflower turn surrounded by millions of suns?"

Sunflower Way Turns
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"I believe that we are put here in human form to decipher the hieroglyphs of love and suffering. And, there is no degree of love or intensity of feeling that does not bring with it the possibility of a crippling hurt. But, it is a duty to take that risk and love without reserve or defense."

Hurt Believe Feelings
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"To gain your own voice, forget about having it heard. Become a saint of your own province and your own consciousness."

Writing Voice Gains
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"To gain your own voice you have to forget about having it heard."

Writing Voice Design
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"Concentrate on what you want to say to yourself and your friends. Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness. You say what you want to say when you don't care who's listening."

Writing Listening Care
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"When it snows in your nose, you catch cold in your brain."

Snow Addiction Brain
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"We love to be hurt and we love to have our unhealing wounds opened and reopened again: we sit staring in the mirror of art, fascinated by our own deformities."

Art Hurt Mirrors
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"Every American wants MORE & MORE of the world and why not, you only live once. But the mistake made in America is persons accumulate more & more dead matter, machinery, possessions & rugs & fact information at the expense of what really counts as more: feeling, good feeling, sex feeling, tenderness feeling, mutual feeling. You own twice as much rug if you're twice as aware of the rug."

Sex Mistake America
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"The weight of the world is love. Under the burden of solitude, under the burden of dissatisfaction."

Solitude Literature World
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"What thoughts I have of you tonight, Walt Whit- man, for I walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headache self-conscious looking at the full moon. In my hungry fatigue, and shopping for images, I went into the neon fruit supermarket, dreaming of your enumerations!"

Dream Moon Men
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Allen Ginsberg Poet, Activist
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"The suffering itself is not so bad; it's the resentment against suffering that is the real pain."

Pain Real Suffering
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