If you intend to create something that people will observe and listen to, you've got to listen to them first.
Marilyn MansonStrangely enough a lot of my ideals are christian in a sense but I don't like the way that religion is portrayed in America but, I think, the album "Antichrist Superstar" really expresses, when you look at the lyrics it expresses, how I feel. I mean it's based in individuality and, strength and believe in yourself, believe in, you're your own god.
Marilyn MansonGradually, I began to resent Christian school and doubt everything I was told. It became clear that the suffering they were praying to be released from was a suffering they had imposed on themselvesโand now us. The beast they lived in fear of was really themselves: It was man, not some mythological demon, that was going to destroy man in the end. And this beast had been created out of their fear.
Marilyn MansonMechanical Animals for me documents the repair of my emotions, the repair of my soul, and this record does deal with God in a different way. It deals with me finding God in art, and in music. I think there's more spirituality in art than you could find in a church
Marilyn MansonAmerica puts killers on the cover of Time magazine, giving them as much notoriety as our favorite movie stars.
Marilyn MansonIt happens every millennium. Now more than ever, man threatens to destroy himself with his own technology, and all the ideas contained within Big Brother exist within Little Brother. We're all watching ourselves. We are our own oppressors. This is a time when an idea like God is needed more than ever. For me, I've found that God exists within yourself and what you create. The only thing we've got to look forward to is saving ourselves
Marilyn MansonMy desire is to be pure again and not dirtied by the world. But it's my duty to be as ugly and as filthy as I am, so the audience can experience what I have.
Marilyn MansonSometimes music, movies and books are the only things that let us feel like someone else feels like we do.
Marilyn MansonThings have become devalued to the point where people don't realize the repercussions, that they're devaluing themselves. It could end up bringing about chaos, a lawless situation.
Marilyn MansonAnyone who thinks they're happy should really see a doctor, because there is no reason to be happy.
Marilyn MansonBlack eyeliner. Itโs standard. Itโs all you need. It just makes the world a better place.
Marilyn MansonIf a kid is old enough to drive a car or buy a gun, isn't he old enough to be held personally responsible for what he does with his car or gun? Or if he's a teenager, should someone else be blamed because he isn't as enlightened as an eighteen-year-old?
Marilyn MansonAnd that's the type of thing I'm trying to speak out against the most, religion controlling what we see and what we do in our personal lives, even if you're not a part of that religion. Antichrist Superstar[the album] is a challenge really, to traditional morality and it's...to make people question that and make people think about different perspectives.
Marilyn MansonIf they think that an artist can destroy their faith, then their faith is rather fragile.
Marilyn MansonRelationships never break cleanly. Like a valuable vase, they are smashed and then glued back together, smashed and glued, smashed and glued until the pieces just don't fit together anymore.
Marilyn MansonThings like, people saying the new album would debut at number one on the Billboard Charts in the U.S. and I said, "No it's gonna be number Three." Because Number 3 is a very powerful number on the album. It's repeated quite often. Then it did chart an Number 3. Was it a coincidence you decide. If your in touch with your subconscious, you can really use it to your advantage
Marilyn MansonI've always had a desire to be provocative and to make people think, but it wouldn't be any challenge for me just to be shocking. That is where it begins for me, not where it stops. And I could be much more shocking. I think I've adopted a sense of subtlety. I don't sit around wondering how I can make myself even stranger to the world. I've simply evolved into the monster I created, and I'm quite happy with it.
Marilyn MansonWhen you're taught to love everyone, to love your enemies, then what value does that place on love?
Marilyn MansonNot only are love and hate such closely related emotions, but it's a lot easier to hate someone you've cared about than someone you never have.
Marilyn MansonThis isn't a mob, won't need to change the names. Everyone around you has murdered someone, something sacred. There isn't one nail without dirt under it. There isn't any white cotton panties that aren't soaked and stained red. It's better to push something when it's slipping, than to risk being dragged down.
Marilyn MansonI don't want to feel like I've matured. That's a stupid word that I never want to use.
Marilyn MansonIf we're bringing up kids that are so stupid that they kill themselves because of a song, what good are the kids in the first place ?
Marilyn MansonI think everybody's got a presentation. Everybody looks a certain way because they want to convey a certain image. You look a certain way because you want people to listen to you in a certain way.
Marilyn MansonFor me, it's never been an ego situation where I have been "I'm the boss; expletive you." It's always been a situation where someone comes to me and says "I can't tolerate working with you anymore" and I would admit sometimes I wouldn't blame them for that. But I also sometimes think I'm not that difficult to figure out. I don't really know what has driven people to be so angry and bitter - people like my old keyboard player Pogo, who I've known for such a long time. I feel bad for him, but there are grievances with everything.
Marilyn MansonI believe in dreams. I believe that every night on the planet everything that is, was and can be is dreamt. I believe that what happens in dreams is no different no less important than what happens in the waking world. I believe that dreams are the closest equvalent present-day mankind has to trime travel.
Marilyn MansonThe advantage of the internet is that it has taken away the charade of politics. China has heard of democracy and people know about certain concepts they wouldn't have previously.
Marilyn MansonFor me it's very important to express my thoughts, the pictures I carry inside of me, maybe because it's important to get them out.
Marilyn MansonI hate normal studios, because you have to say "hi" to the person at the front desk. And then you go into the studio, and there's a second engineer in there that you don't know, and then you're stuck in a glass box with someone talking to you through a walkie-talkie.
Marilyn MansonIf God does exist, it's in music and in art, I think there's more spiritually in what I do than in a lot of religious groups judging, especially in the way they've treated me in the past couple of years. I've grown tired of talking about religion. It's time for me to move on. I'm trying to redefine the idea of spirituality and make it now such a bad word for myself, because I find that I sound really stupid saying it sometimes
Marilyn MansonYou can't force someone to see the truth, just like you can't force a blind man to see.
Marilyn MansonOnce I threw a water bottle from the stage into the audience, and it hit Tony Bennett in the head. It was a special moment for me.
Marilyn Manson