Edward Abbey
Edward Abbey
Edward Paul Abbeywas an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. His best-known works include the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, which has been cited as an inspiration by radical environmental groups, and the non-fiction work Desert Solitaire...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionActivist
Date of Birth29 January 1927
CountryUnited States of America
tombstone great-work ends
James Joyce buried himself in his great work. _Finnegan's Wake_ is his monument and his tombstone. A dead end.
writing police musical
Poor Dimitri Shostakovich: In the Soviet Union, he was condemned as being too radical; in the West, for being too conservative. He could please no one but the musical public. He revenged himself on both by writing a short piece called 'March of the Soviet Police.'
children hell politician
Among politicians and businessmen, *Pragmatism* is the current term for 'To hell with our children.'
dark night may
Quantum mechanics provides us with an approximate, plausible, conjectural explanation of what actually is, or was, or may be taking place inside a cyclotron during a dark night in February.
may
Women who love only women may have a good point.
sweet democracy cures
Anarchism? You bet your sweet betsy. The only cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy. Much more.
communication writing winter
To the Technocrats: Have mercy on us. Relax a bit, take time out for simple pleasures. For example, the luxuries of electricity, indoor plumbing, central heating, instant electronic communication and such, have taught me to relearn and enjoy the basic human satisfactions of dipping water from a cold clear mountain stream; of building a wood fire in a cast-iron stove; of using long winter nights for making music, making things, making love; of writing long letters, in longhand with a fountain pen, to the few people on this earth I truly care about.
fun adventure climbing
Climbing K2 or floating the Grand Canyon in an inner tube; there are some things one would rather have done than do.
government self support
A true libertarian supports free enterprise, opposes big business; supports local self-government, opposes the nation-state; supports the National Rifle Association, opposes the Pentagon.
doubt sauce meals
A crude meal, no doubt, but the best of all sauces is hunger.
dog good-life life-is
The dog's life is a good life, for a dog.
pain heart blessing
Within minutes my 115-mile walk through the desert hills becomes a thing apart, a disjunct reality on the far side of a bottomless abyss, immediately beyond physical recollection.But it's all still there in my heart and soul. The walk, the hills, the sky, the solitary pain and pleasure-they will grow larger, sweeter, lovelier in the days to come, like a treasure found and then, voluntarily, surrendered. Returned to the mountains with my blessing. It leaves a golden glowing on the mind.
two people groups
There are two kinds of people I cannot abide: bigots and any well-organized ethnic group.
reality mets knows
I must confess that I know nothing whatsoever about true underlying reality, never having met any.