10 Quotes & Sayings By Kenneth Patchen

Kenneth Patchen was a poet, author, and journalist. He was a member of the Algonquin Round Table for a time, wrote a book called The Book of Nightmares, and a novel called The Life and Death of Captain Future. He also wrote a book about the atomic bomb called "The Last Day". He was cremated in New York City.

1
I tell you that what has changed is the whole conception of human life- that men of every race on this earth may have the same opportunity to live beautifully- to live in purity without fear or hunger or hatred- as brothers, not as brutes tearing through these hideous swamps of ignorance and war. Men speak of a belief in God. I am beginning to understand what every Christ- and their skins have been every color- what every Christ has taught: That love of God is love of mankind. That no one can profess to love God while he hates the least of his fellows. Jesus, if He were on earth right now, would fight to free men from oppression and evil and war; and you who have made a pious mockery of his every commandment- you would kill Him. Kenneth Patchen
2
Destiny is the music of the improbable. Were it otherwise, almost anyone could exist. Kenneth Patchen
3
If the truth is inside, And the form is outside, What is the truth of sleep? Kenneth Patchen
4
Law & order embrace on hate's border. Kenneth Patchen
5
Modern scientific accomplishments" --a wealth of methods coupled with a poverty of intentions which, having nearly exhausted the hell-potential of the earth, move on now to the first frontier of the heavens. Kenneth Patchen
6
Take taking from those that give & nobody anywhere will need any more such gifts. Kenneth Patchen
7
Out of slavery, freedom --yes, & roses from the pig's behind. Kenneth Patchen
8
Man is not to direct or to be directed anymore than a tree or a cloud or a stone Man is not to rule or be ruled anymore than a faith or a truth or a love Man is not to doubt or to be doubted anymore than a wave or a seed or a fire There is no problem in living which life hasn't answered to its own need And we cannot direct, rule, or doubt what is beyond our highest ability to understand we can only be humble before it we can only worship ourselves because we are a part of it The eye in the leaf is watching out of our fingers The ear in the stone is listening through our voices The thought of the wave is thinking in our dreams The faith of the seed is building with our deaths . Kenneth Patchen
9
Why should anyone be surprised at what the men "in power" are capable of --didn't every mad- Judas one of them begin his career by slowly & brutally strangling an innocent child? Kenneth Patchen