Nothing exists until or unless it is observed. An artist is making something exist by observing it. And his hope for other people is that they will also make it exist by observing it. I call it ‘creative observation.’ Creative viewing.
WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS
WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS
William S. Burroughs on creativity
William S. Burroughs85 quotes“Nothing exists until or unless it is observed. An artist is making something exist by observing it. And his hope for other people is that they will also make it exist by observing it. I call it ‘creative observation.’ Creative viewing.”
Filed under
More from William S. Burroughs
I’m creating an imaginary — it’s always imaginary — world in which I would like to live.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs What a horrible loutish planet this is. the dominant species consists of sadistic morons, faces bearing the hideous lineaments of spiritual famine swollen with stupid hate. Hopeless rubbish.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs As soon as you know you are in prison, you have a possibility to escape.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs Black magic operates most effectively in preconscious, marginal areas. Casual curses are the most effective.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what’s going on.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs There are no innocent bystanders, What are they doing there in the first place?
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs If, after spending time with a person, you feel as though you’ve lost a quart of plasma, avoid that person in the future.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs You can’t fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs The world is now a virus.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs Paranoia is just having the right information.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs I bear my burden proudly for all to see, to conquer prejudice and ignorance and hate with knowledge and sincerity and love. Whenever you are threatened by a hostile presence, you emit a thick cloud of love like an octopus squirts out ink.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs There couldn’t be a society of people who didn’t dream. They’d be dead in two weeks.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs There are no innocent bystanders.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs I’m definitely antiscientist because I feel that science represents a conspiracy to impose as the real and only universe, the universe of scientists themselves – they’re reality-addicts, they’ve got to have things so real so they can get their hands on it.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs What does the money machine eat? It eats youth, spontaneity, life, beauty, and, above all, it eats creativity. It eats quality and sh*ts quantity.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs Once the law starts asking questions, there’s no stopping them.
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs
Original quotes
From our community writers
And in the end when the money is gone – will you still stay it was worth it.
M.K. StandbyM.K. Standby My soul speaks a language, only you can understand.
Ginnie BaleGinnie Bale In another life, you kept your word, and forever’s still ours for the taking.
Harriet SelinaHarriet Selina Journey with struggle becomes a great tale in the future.
Carla StokesCarla Stokes I’m not asking that you take the bullet for me. I wish you’d shoot first.
Danielle MontgomeryDanielle Montgomery A rainy day is the perfect excuse to explore deeper feelings.
Emily BockEmily Bock Stop taking care of everyone else before you take care of yourself.
Claire VinsonClaire Vinson Music is a weed, we all fallen souls are high on.
Ananya BhaskarAnanya Bhaskar
Meet the writers
More on creativity
To me, creatively challenging myself is my version of owning the Nets.
NasNas What is the worst is a fashion designer who talks all the time of his or her creativity, what they are, how they evolved. Just do it and shut up.
Karl LagerfeldKarl Lagerfeld Creativity is the encounter of the intensively conscious human being with his world.
Rollo MayRollo May Responsibility is what awaits outside the Eden of Creativity.
Nadine GordimerNadine Gordimer Creativity arises out of the tension between spontaneity and limitations, the latter (like the river banks) forcing the spontaneity into the various forms which are essential to the work of art or poem.
Rollo MayRollo May Creativity is the process of bringing something new into being. Creativity requires passion and commitment. It brings to our awareness what was previously hidden and points to new life. The experience is one of heightened consciousness: ecstasy.
Rollo MayRollo May I don’t think I have the kind of creativity to write fiction.
MitskiMitski The creative union of the conscious with the unconscious is what one usually calls ‘inspiration.’
Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky