Hunter S. Thompson, the father of creative non-fiction, was an iconic journalist, writer, athlete, gun enthusiast, and all-around reckless guy who saw the world in a way few of us do (or admit). In honour of his genius, here are some of his most memorable quotes:
- “Nixon had the unique ability to make his enemies seem honorable, and we developed a keen sense of fraternity. Some of my best friends have hated Nixon all their lives. My mother hates Nixon, my son hates Nixon, I hate Nixon, and this hatred has brought us together.”—1994, in a Rolling Stone interview.
- “If I’d written all the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people—including me—would be rotting in prison cells from Rio to Seattle today. Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism.”—1967, in The Great Shark Hunt.
- “At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.”—1963 in an interview with The National Observer.