Kenneth Patchen Quotes

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

Destiny is the music of the improbable. Were it otherwise, almost anyone could exist.

~ Kenneth Patchen

If the truth is inside,And the form is outside,What is the truth of sleep?

~ Kenneth Patchen

Law & order embrace on hate's border.

~ Kenneth Patchen

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

Take taking from those that give & nobody anywhere will need any more such gifts.

~ Kenneth Patchen

Out of slavery, freedom --yes, & roses from the pig's behind.

~ Kenneth Patchen

Man is not to direct or to be directed anymore than a tree or a cloud or a stoneMan is not to rule or be ruled anymore than a faith or a truth or a loveMan is not to doubt or to be doubted anymore than a wave or a seed or a fireThere is no problem in living which life hasn't answered to its own needAnd 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 itThe eye in the leaf is watching out of our fingersThe ear in the stone is listening through our voicesThe thought of the wave is thinking in our dreamsThe faith of the seed is building with our deaths

~ Kenneth Patchen

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