I've enjoyed being a famous writer-except that every once in a while you have to write something.
Ken KeseyIt isn't by getting out of the world that we become enlightened, but by getting into the worldโฆby getting so tuned in that we can ride the waves of our existence and never get tossed because we become the waves.
Ken KeseyThis world belongs to the strong, my friend! The ritual of our existence is based on the strong getting stronger by devouring the weak. We must face up to this. No more than right that it should be this way. We must learn to accept it as a law of the natural world. The rabbits accept their role in the ritual and recognize the wolf as the strong. In defense, the rabbit becomes sly and frightened and elusive and he digs holes and hides when the wolf is about. And he endures, he goes on. He knows his place. He most certainly doesn't challenge the wolf to combat. Now, would that be wise? Would it?
Ken KeseyListen, wait, and be patient. Every shaman knows you have to deal with the fire that's in your audience's eye.
Ken KeseyLeary can get a part of my mind that's kind of rusted shut grinding again, just by being around him and talking.
Ken KeseyBecause he knows you have to laugh at the things that hurt you just to keep yourself in balance, just to keep the world from running you plumb crazy. He knows there's a painful side; he knows my thumb smarts and his girlfriend has a bruised breast and the doctor is losing his glasses, but he won't let the pain blot out the humor no more'n he'll let the humor blot out the pain.
Ken Kesey