102. TIMOTHY LEARY: You aren’t like them
February 5th, 2013
Timothy Leary (1920-1996) was a psychologist, author and pioneer of psychedelic drugs. While working as a professor at Harvard, he explored the potential benefits of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. His later experiments with LSD made him a key figure and hero during the counter-culture movement of the 1960s.
- I’d never heard of Leary before a reader (thanks Denver) sent me this quote.
- There’s lot of his interviews on YouTube (like this great one) and I also found this BBC documentary on him if you’re interested in finding out more.
- What are your thoughts? Was he a crackpot or did he help people unlock their unconscious mind and open the doors of perception?
- Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
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I don’t know Gav, what he said sounds like something that would dribble out of a crackpot’s mouth.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
With all due respect, the “crackpot” which you are mentioning was famous among scientists, politicians and historians and many other personalities and their lives were too useful for this planet. All i mean to say is you can insult a person for his habits but not the excellence of his own soul and character which spreads positive energy.
I don’t think Rijulb was being entirely insulting. But I could just be smoking crack…
(I think Leary appreciated humor and the importance of never taking oneself too seriously.)
Susheel needs to learn how to read.
Crackpot or visionary? Could “both” be a reasonable answer? Like many people struggling to find a new sense of reality and purpose in their lives during the difficult time of the 50s and 60s, Leary’s thoughts range from extremely insightful and poignant to cliched or “woo-y”. All told I think he had a positive effect on our culture, and helped to normalize abnormality, something we do much better with today (though not perfectly) – consider how the conversation about autism spectrum has changed enormously since the 60s from “his brain is broken” to “there are lots of ways that human brains can work and still be functional.”
BEST….ONE….YET!!! SO GOOD.
Without a doubt. Amazing work.
Timothy Leary is a genius and a madman, and he is so absolutely right in this quote. Live shamelessly, live dangerously, take the chances, talk to strangers. Live wild and bold and accept the consequences, good and bad. Your life will be so much better for it. I know mine is.
“A little madness now and then is relished by the wisest men.” – Roald Dahl
Beautiful quote by another wise madman. Thanks, DROKALOK!
Alan Watts & Tim Leary? Haha I love it Gav. Excellent piece.
awesome! Thank you!
The art work on this one got a little trippy. I dig it.
(^___^)
My questions about my life were answered in this. Thank you.
This is my favorite one since, Neil Gaiman. Visually fantastic and personally touching. Thank you.
Great homage with the psychedelic styles in the middle.
My favorite part of this quote is hidden: while he explicitly says “you’re not like them,” the statement in fact applies to each one of “them” as well. All those people, who look to you like mindless robots, consuming what’s served and following convention, each of them feels like you — like he doesn’t really fit in, like she’s hiding a unique secret self. And you? To them, you look like one of “them,” going about your mindless existence! As he goes on to say: everyone carries a piece of the puzzle.
I think that’s a good part of the message.
Take courage in meeting people. Heck, occasionally speak to someone on the bus. Maybe a topic arises e.g. they’re reading a book you know, maybe they just seem nice, maybe “they” are a nice girl.
In fact one thing I dislike about our information and service society is people don’t have to rely on each other anymore. We grow independent and lonely, instead of realizing human life is a “together” experience, instead of being depent on those we love or complete strangers and growing closer and feeling community.
If somebody needs help or information, that’s the best way to get to know someone. Also, don’t be afraid to need someting yourself, how are you ever gonna meet nice people who love to help strangers if you never need anything.
The best times I’ve had getting to know people when either they or me were travelling, and one of us was completely lost and just need someone else.
This January I was travelling around for a few days, on the first day my cell phone broke. I was dependent on the kindness of strangers, though sometimes disappointing (like a guy who wanted to charge me 2 bucks to make a minute phone call) it was a good experience.
On a different occasion, a guy offered me to stay with his family because I had missed my train connection… was the kindest thing, and it happens more than you would think!
Great insight!
So true! Check out http://xkcd.com/610/
http://xkcd.com/52/
One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite authors.
As one who ain’t like them I love this Gav!!
Gav, your work always makes Mondays cheerier, thank you.
Timothy Leary = Legend
GAV I LUV UUUUUUUUUUUUU
nice, ur getting your inspiration from a wide field
Is there a way you can notify us (me) when this is available as a print? I need this! lol
Sometimes I’m startled to learn that folks don’t know about Leary, or any of the other counter-culture heroes. But, then I guess that’s why its called counter-culture. Read about his last days to know about a man who wasn’t afraid of life or death, an explorer to the end.
Leary was a really inteligent person, he was an adventurer. Whats the problem about potheads?
Nice psicodelic style in this one!
Hahaha! Southpark in the end was the icing on the cake! this one is so trippy-ly awesome, man!
Spectacular work, Gav! One of my favorites.
I think Tim was a convenient scapegoat for a lot of people. Particularly the type of people who false flagged their way into an illegal war and slaughtered innocent civilians. The reason those in authority marginalized and disparaged the man wasn’t just about “turning people on” to psychedelic drugs, it was about encouraging people to question their worldview/cultural conditioning, empowering them to deconstruct false belief systems and think for themselves, and – along the way – promoting some of the most powerful tools possible to do so. Here’s what George Carlin said about his experience with psychedelics:
“I understood how my normal perception of the world was constricted and limited by many prohibitions I had somehow accepted.”
That’s what made him “dangerous.” Was he a bit forward and outspoken? Sure, but he was treading new ground. Sometimes, unrest is the result of a grand idea being born. In the words of James Fadiman, who was an early pioneer in psychedelic research and was in fact working on one such study in the ’60s before research was all together shut down:
“Radical revisions in human thought do not come easily, especially to any institution whose own structure or status might be endangered.”
Speaking of Fadiman and his research, here are some interesting quotes from participants in that (LSD) study – who ranged from mathematicians to architects to scientists:
“I saw (or was) the cosmos and it came together into a pinpoint of all the light and energy there is and burst and flooded the universe with twinkling stars again.
…
I withdrew for a moment and thought about this rare phenomenon. Again laughter tumbled from the depths of my being. I was trying to do the impossible, to stand back and intellectualize about the most integral thought I had ever experienced…Being transcending the sum of its parts….”
“I encountered an amazing presence, and felt a complete sense of the perfection in everything.”
Another insisted:
“I would not have believed what transpired had it not really occurred to me.”
The point, here – and what Fadiman emphasized – is both direct experience and safe, guided, and informed use. In his recent book “Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide”, he put it well in stating:
“To become more aware is your birth right… Whether or not you ever choose to use psychedelic experiences as part of your self-discovery, your decision should be an informed one.”
More and more studies have shown psychedelics to produce incredibly positive effects on an individual’s health – be it in the form of improved personality, a deeply spiritual experience, an aid in therapy, treating mental disorders, curing patients of their addictions to toxic substances, providing comfort in end-of-life care, or for a simple occasion in reverie. Take Roland Griffiths’ work on psilocybin at Johns Hopkins University. They have proven been effective in treating depression, cluster headaches, and anxiety – not to mention an increase in general well-being (the majority of patients rank it as one of the “top 5″ experiences of their lives). Ketamine is also showing to be uniquely effective treating depression, the same goes with MDMA for PTSD. Elsewhere, Ibogaine has proven a highly efficacious (as in, full on cure) treatment for heroin and prescription opiates after only one use.
People like Tim, even those taking a more measured approach, are still being marginalized to this day. Just look at Dr. David Nutt in the UK, who was sacked as the chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs after claiming in a paper that alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than many illegal drugs (including LSD, ecstasy and cannabis).
I wholly believe that society should allow for safe access to psychedelics and, what’s more, thoroughly trained professionals to help guide one through their experience. Set and setting can go a long way in mitigating most of the negative side effects that might occur during a session.
“The first place you go, when you’re going to take a new drug, is the library.” – Terence McKenna
“The approach to the numinous is the real therapy.” – Carl Jung
“Every slightest effort at opening up new areas of thought, every attempt to perceive new aspects of truth, or just a little truth, is of inestimable value in preparing the way for the light we cannot see.” – James Douglass
I think anything in excess is bad, and I also think the closest I have come to understanding true wisdom and being one with the universe have been during meditation sessions, not drug trips. However, the first time I did acid truly a life-changing experiment. I was just a teenager, like all teens trapped in my own head, like so many holding on to resentments, deeply rooted and petty ones alike, but that night all of that was literally blown away, like candle in a gust of wind. The next day it was still all there, but it was like I suddenly realized how small and meaningless all that bitterness was in the scheme of my life, and began the long process of letting go. I honestly consider it one of the most important early steps on my own endless quest for enlightenment.
Would I do acid again? No. I learned all I needed to know from that particular substance. And meditation takes you even further, without quite as many dangers. But I’m still grateful for that very first time, that first tentative burst into a deeper awareness of the universe. Not to sound too much like a dirty hippie, hahaha.
Oh, I agree. I didn’t mean to imply they be taken frequently or excessively. In fact, it seems to be the case that months (if not years…or, for that case, a lifetime) are generally required to properly contemplate/integrate an experience.
Alan Watts, who had experiences with and without the aid of psychedelic drugs, had this to say:
“Through subsequent experimentation with LSD-25 and the other chemicals named above, I found I could move with ease into the state of ‘cosmic consciousness,’ and in due course became less and less dependent on the chemicals themselves for ‘tuning in’ to this particular wave length of experience.”
(from a pretty good essay, if you’re interested – http://deoxy.org/w_psyrel.htm )
Ultimately, he put it more bluntly:
“When you get the message, hang up the phone.”
(I’m not sure if he was the originator of this quote, or Ram Dass or the religious scholar Huston Smith…but I know he did say it)
Thanks for sharing your experience and expressing it so beautifully. This line in particular – “but that night all of that was literally blown away, like candle in a gust of wind” – reminded me of what is exactly meant by nirvana, which translates literally to “to blow out” (as in a candle). In the Buddhist context, meaning the cessation of waves, turnings, and/or circlings of the mind. I agree entirely that meditation is a wonderful practice and important to integrate into one’s life. Alan Watts actually has a great lecture on it, as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHCJoWikp5E
Thanks again for your input!
Very excellent response to the question about Timothy Leary. Thoughtful, backed up with evidence, and literate. Good job. I have the priviledge of standing in a warehouse where all of Timothy Leary’s research materials and personal items were stored. Going through his files and seeing his diary entries, etc. was pretty mind blowing on it’s own. He was both a genius and a madman. He was human and he had flaws but he was a courageous thinker and he spoke up loud and proud.
sorry – my literacy is in question. Please change have to had in the 2nd line.
Whoa, that’s freaking awesome! Thanks for sharing! There was an article I just read where they said some library was looking for an intern to archive/digitize the Timothy Leary Papers, or something. Not sure if it’s the same materials, but it’s interesting that you bring that up.
And thanks for the kind remarks and adding your own stellar insight!
Nice. Thanks for sharing that
It’s awesome Gavin! I love the psychedelic vibe you injected into it.
I can relate to it SO much, it really moved me. I hope you can make it available as a print. I don’t know much about Leary so I don’t really have an opinion about him but this message is just wonderful.
You rock Gavin!
This is just incredible… one of my favs yet gav
Gave me Goosebumps, amazing dude.
Okay, that was cool.
I don’t have much of a filter, especially when I’m tired or had too much sugar, so it does make me easy to say to complete strangers “Hey, what are you reading?” or “I like (insert random thing now).” For the most part, it’s led to some awesome conversations or people snorting with laughter when they overhear me singing random snippets of songs to my roommate.
I LOVE this. It’s so psychedelic and lighter on the mind visually (but not in meaning) than your last few pieces.
I really like it ! I think every one have been there and worry to much for the thoughts of the mass (people).
Here’s to those who aren’t like the others.
This is absolutely perfect. Thank you!!
It has been said that there is a fine line between genius and insanity. Leary was walking that tightrope everyday.
This has been one of the best motivations to come from zen pencils yet. Thank you Gavin.
I know this is true. Some months ago, I found myself looking and smiling to a complete stranger in the subway (it was the first time I did something like that). I think he felt the same, because he smiled to me too. I couldn’t talk to him, and I repent for it until today.
But I learned that there are other people like me out there. Complete strangers who can make me smile. And now I’m hopeful =)
Regards!
I like the artwork. Very beautiful. Would make a nice poster for sure. And Timothy Leary as a very interesting guy (understatement).
You make my day Gav, I love your cartoon style and interpretations!
Indeed. Find the others, as they are out there. Brilliant!
Here I was thinking, of writing about doing things unexpectedly and differently. I had given up the idea, coz well…
And then I see this.
Thank you very much for this Gav.
Great quote, and excellent rendition as always. I am curious as to what was the font used – it speaks to me!
Another awesome one! We could all use a little more psychedelic in our lives.
This is absolutely fantastic!!
Did I ever mention you restore my HOPE in humanity?
Thanks for the positive feedback and great insights on Leary, someone I didn’t know much about until a week ago. I definitely have no problem with someone who challenges authority, encourages people to try something new and possibly mind-bending. Plus he inspired two Beatles songs (Tomorrow Never Knows and Come Together) and was called ‘the most dangerous man in America’ by Nixon so he’s a good guy in my book.
I love it,
that’s exactly how i feel most of the time
Wow Gav. I loved how the panels exploded into colour making the quote come to life. I identified with the bit about the dull tedium of conversation we indulge in: the ‘how are you’ and ‘sunny day eh?’ I crib about it but do nothing about it. I’m going to try to do away with that starting today : )
My god, you´re great.
Great work! I love how the transition of (shockingly bright but still awesome) colors went perfectly with this quote. While I don’t know much about the person who said this quote, I agree on how ‘robotic and programmed’ our days become in certain periods of our life.
This motivated my day.
Another awesome comic Gav! Keep it up; I can’t wait to see next week’s comic!
It made my day , the moment I realized that my quote submission got ZEN PENCILED !!!!
Strangers have always held an inexpiable allure for me despite me being exactly like the shy guy in the comic . I like to think about what anyone I observe has going on in his/her mind and the fascinating way in which the world may be different from their point of view.
Your brilliant artwork gives the already amazing quote an indescribable appeal. Keep up the good work mate , your comics never seize to inspire.
I agree with everything in this quote except for the “nobody comes into your life by mere coincidence”. Why must we subtract from the incredibility of the connections we make by ascribing them to some hidden hand?
Great comic, though.
In a way, it could be seen not as a claim of a hidden supernatural hand, but of the power of statistics.
When you stand apart from a median, it’s more likely that you’re going to connect to others that stand apart. It’s not a “coincidence” when you encounter a person looking for the same thing you’re looking for – because odds are greater that you’ll notice them, over people who don’t share your interests.
The Internet itself should be a good example of this – the ability to index and search so much information brings together people who would otherwise never have encountered one another. It’s not coincidence, just the effect of statistics and demographics.
What Mori said. And I’ll add, whether there are unseen hands or not, isn’t the sky beautiful?
Find the others AND BRING THEM TO THE PARTY!!
I thank you for the great art and insight of thing you find, this one in particular, got me a smile because that the very way I feel, and to give some support to his words, that’s how I found my boyfriend, by just talking to someone out of nowhere, to a person that maybe I will talk to again, and surprise surprise we have been together for 7 years XD, so yeah why the heck no n_n.
Great artwork!
I think Leary’s quote here is something that will intrinsically anger many people. Perhaps, what Leary is trying to get across, is something that cannot be stated – no matter how gently – without ticking a lot of people off.
Because it appears to be saying “you’re special, and everyone else is not”. In a way, it might be a moment of extra cynicism from Leary here – essentially fed up with dancing around saying something directly. And the hard truth is that certain truths will always piss people off. Because people don’t like contemplating such questions – whether the answer ends up being true or false.
I’ve always felt what Leary is actually saying here, is that it’s pointless to pretend to be “normal” in relation to the median average around you, because that just leads to isolation. If you don’t fit in, you don’t fit in. Pandering yourself to the dominant convention is a waste of your own time and energy, and it would be more productive to do your own thing and if possible find other people who don’t fit in.
It’s true that many people convince themselves they are “special” to feel better about themselves, or to believe they’re superior to others. This is, in part, what angers the average person when they see a message like Leary’s. Because their own cynicism has convinced them anybody who doesn’t “fit in” is just trying to act “special”. Yet it cannot be denied that some people do not fit in, and never achieve their potential until they give up trying and go do their own thing. It cannot be denied that in any group, a minority stand out because they go do things the majority aren’t interested in or never thought of. Sometimes, those people change society by not going along with the majority.
This is my favorite website. Its the online equivalent of a warm hug. Thanks Gavin.
Great comic, Gavin. I occasionally make those weird observations and get the funniest looks from people.
BTW, have you been watching music videos of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band? Because half this comic is pretty trippy!
Oops, my ignorance is showing. Just followed your link about Leary and learned he was into LSD.
Learn something new everyday.
Yep, paying tribute to Leary with the LSD psychedelic style.
I can relate to this on so many levels..
has annyone been able to track down a source for this quote…? not that i doubt it, just REALLY wish i could back it up to others, and, popular and unchallenged as it, i can’t find a source ANNYWHERE…!P
LOVELY comic, i’ll def be checking out your others…!!D
Same, couldn’t find the original source anywhere … is there anyone out there who can help?
Please, please, please make this available to buy a print of. I hacked it apart and printed it out on several pages to show friends, but I’d like to give you some money. Thank you so much for making this
Hey, i think your work is awesome, it has arrived to my browser xD translated to spanish (im from Argentina) i knew some of these quotes but your work make them much more special. No more to say than congratulations and nice (and beautiful) job!
PD: sorry for my english.
The Quote And Drawings Reminded Me Of This Quote So Much That I Feel Compelled To Quote It Down In The Comment Section, It JUST Reminds Of It.
“She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by-
And never knew.”
? Shel Silverstein, Every Thing on It
You Have My Gratitude For Drawing Upon So Many Good Quotes. c:
seu estilo de desenhar é incrivel!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2gbPzvoXUQ
There must be something. He speaks of the importance of tolerance in rationalists and donating organs.
Dr. Leary LIVED..and lived… and lived… and lives on..light from his life shines yet..
Would it be possible to have this made into a product on society6? I would love this to hang in my room!
Yes; how do we buy a print of this?
PLEASE tell me this will be available in framed print!
Hello, can anyone tell me how to get this print? I can’t seem to find it on the shop link.
I love this!
“Timothy Leary is dead, no no, no he’s outside looking in”
Lyrics from a Moody Blues song circa early 70′s
The Idea is great, but it seems that its hinting to racial mixing which we see a lot of it today. Sure Timothy Leary didnt hint for that… So lets not…
I heard Timothy Leary’s cohort, Rich Alpert (Ram Dass) speak here in Spokane and have read a few of his books. He seems to be all around compassionate and very sane.
When I heard Leary speak here he sounded like a babbling madman, but I still loved reading his books, and I’ve never known him to advocate using any drug irresponsibly…go figure!
Then, my favorite author is Alan Watts. I enjoy his writing, which really made a big difference in the way I think. Thank you, all
So, if I post this comment on this page, which turned out to be one that keeps running through my mind, will others find me?
Crap.
All visionaries were once perceived crackpots : ) ..not all crackpots became visionaries ..
Or, to quote Kurt Cobain, “I’m not like them, but I can pretend”.
It’s a great idea. Everybody carries a piece of puzzle, we just need to step out of the safety zone of our own.
Read more articles like this on How To Make A Change In Your Life
I always hate when some stranger starts talking to me about some boring stuff, because I’m not interested in what he tries to say…it’s always some stupid gibberish… and it’s just not natural to talk with strangers. I only talk to my friends and family, which is enough.
I totally agree.I hate when people try to make some stupid conversation. Hey man, go with peace out of my sight. I have no time nor desire to listen youre bullcrap. I have my things to do and my things on my mind. I dont wanna think about your crap too.
I get it.
Be different- talk to the elevator girl. do the unexpected…
We’ve seen this a million times. Over & over. Do YOU get it yet?
When people talk about the weather they are stepping out- they are beginning a conversation in an easy nonthreatening way. Don’t criticize, take it and reply with some personal info..”yeah like this rain like ruined my move, & I like just left my mom’s basement and got my own like awesome place and like my cats are all like…”
THE TRUTH, this article is doing exactly what its telling you NOT to do- be the same lame ass as always by cartooning the same lame advice you get on a hundred other sites. Do Better than this Psych-Self Help 101 BS.
jeeeezzz
It’s great that the poster of this “quote imagining” has done some research on Tim Leary, but I am disturbed that he didn’t know who Leary was before then. True, his biggest influence was “turning on” America, but his scope reached further than that…The world needed to know about what people were trying to accomplish with the counter-culture movement.
This is so fantastic. Its’ like me in there, my mind talking and you just made a cartoon strip out of it. This is really amazing Gav. Thankyou!!, for inspiration is hard to come by when you’re me. sigh!
That Leary sense of exploration lives on. See “Bringing science back to hallucinogens,” Johns Hopkins Magazine, Spring 2011. This is about researchers studying the use of psilocybin or ‘Magic Mushrooms’ to help the terminally ill deal with pain. The lead researcher’s name is Johnson so of course I’d call him…Magic Mushroom Johnson.
If digging up alumni magazines does not appeal to you, it is discussed in an episode of “All My Clones,” a biotech soap opera that ran in BioWorld for years. The episode is archived at http://www.bioworld.com/content/untitled-72 and is available in print now: https://www.createspace.com/4166055
That interview is anything but great, it’s infuriating. Why did you link to it.