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Aleister Crowley Quotes

Powerful Aleister Crowley for Daily Growth

About Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), a British writer, occultist, and mountaineer, is renowned as one of the most influential figures in modern magical thought. Born on October 12, 1875, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, Crowley's unconventional life was marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and experience. Raised in a devout Plymouth Brethren family, Crowley rebelled against religious orthodoxy early on, eventually abandoning his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, to travel the world in search of spiritual enlightenment. His travels took him to Algeria, Ceylon, and India, where he was initiated into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a mystical society that profoundly influenced his magical beliefs. In 1898, Crowley returned to England, only to be expelled from the Golden Dawn for allegedly using its rituals for personal gain. This event marked the beginning of his independent magical career, during which he developed the system of Thelema, a philosophy based on the maxim "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." Crowley's major works include "The Book of the Law," a seminal text of Thelemic belief, and "The Secret Rituals of Eleusis," a collection of magical rituals. His literary output also includes poetry, fiction, and non-fiction works that reflect his diverse interests in religion, philosophy, and the occult. A controversial figure due to his unorthodox beliefs and lifestyle, Crowley's influence extends far beyond the realm of esotericism. He is often associated with the counterculture of the 1960s and remains a figure of fascination for scholars and practitioners of the occult today. Aleister Crowley died on December 1, 1947, in Hastings, England. His legacy continues to inspire and intrigue, encapsulating the spirit of rebellion and the quest for spiritual truth that has defined his enduring impact.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."

Aleister Crowley's quote, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law," is a central tenet of Thelema, a philosophical system he developed. It encourages individuals to pursue their true will, which is the expression of one's authentic self and unique purpose in life. Essentially, it means that self-discovery and personal growth are essential for an individual's spiritual fulfillment, and this pursuit should guide every decision and action. The emphasis here is on freedom, self-expression, and understanding one's true nature, as opposed to adhering blindly to external rules or societal norms.

"The word of the Law is 'Do what thou wilt.' Substitute for 'do' any of the following: shalt, will, desire, perceive, take, or allow. The words 'thou,' 'wilt,' and 'whole' are to be understood in their most profound and most far-reaching sense."

Aleister Crowley's quote from the Law of Thelema encourages individuals to act according to their deepest desires or true self, emphasizing personal freedom and self-determination. By using various synonyms for 'do,' such as 'shalt,' 'will,' 'desire,' 'perceive,' 'take,' or 'allow,' he suggests that one should follow their own will in all aspects of life. The words 'thou' (you), 'wilt' (want, desire), and 'whole' (entire being) signify a deep understanding and respect for the individual's unique nature and purpose. Ultimately, this quote emphasizes self-realization, personal growth, and following one's own path in life.

"Magick is the Science and Art of causing change to occur in conformity with the Will."

Aleister Crowley's quote "Magick is the Science and Art of causing change to occur in conformity with the Will" emphasizes the idea that magick, a term he used distinctly from magic, is a deliberate and purposeful act of bringing about desired change or transformation according to one's own desires (will). It combines elements of both science, as it involves understanding the underlying principles of how reality functions, and art, as it requires creativity, imagination, and intuition to shape those principles into manifestation. In essence, it's a practical method for shaping the world in alignment with one's personal goals or beliefs.

"Every man and every woman is a star."

The quote "Every man and every woman is a star" by Aleister Crowley emphasizes the inherent greatness within each individual. In essence, it implies that each person carries unique talents, abilities, and potential, much like stars in the universe that shine brightly with their own distinct light. This perspective encourages appreciation for the diversity of humanity and reminds us to value our own personal growth and self-expression as we contribute to the broader tapestry of life.

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

This quote by Aleister Crowley emphasizes the value of open-mindedness and critical thinking. It suggests that a truly educated person has the ability to consider diverse ideas, even if they don't fully agree or accept them. This mindset allows for a broader understanding and exploration of various perspectives, fostering intellectual growth and promoting dialogue in a respectful and rational manner.

In the absence of willpower the most complete collection of virtues and talents is wholly worthless.

- Aleister Crowley

Worthless, Most, Wholly, Collection

To read a newspaper is to refrain from reading something worth while. The first discipline of education must therefore be to refuse resolutely to feed the mind with canned chatter.

- Aleister Crowley

Mind, Newspaper, Read, Canned

Chinese civilisation is so systematic that wild animals have been abolished on principle.

- Aleister Crowley

Been, Principle, Chinese

The conscience of the world is so guilty that it always assumes that people who investigate heresies must be heretics; just as if a doctor who studies leprosy must be a leper. Indeed, it is only recently that science has been allowed to study anything without reproach.

- Aleister Crowley

Study, Conscience, Been, Assumes

I have never grown out of the infantile belief that the universe was made for me to suck.

- Aleister Crowley

Universe, Never, Made, Infantile

I was asked to memorise what I did not understand; and, my memory being so good, it refused to be insulted in that manner.

- Aleister Crowley

Memory, Refused, Insulted, Asked

The ordinary man looking at a mountain is like an illiterate person confronted with a Greek manuscript.

- Aleister Crowley

Greek, Ordinary Man, Manuscript

Ordinary morality is only for ordinary people.

- Aleister Crowley

Ordinary, Morality, Only, Ordinary People

I slept with faith and found a corpse in my arms on awakening; I drank and danced all night with doubt and found her a virgin in the morning.

- Aleister Crowley

Faith, Night, Doubt, Drank

The pious pretense that evil does not exist only makes it vague, enormous and menacing.

- Aleister Crowley

Vague, Exist, Does, Pious

The joy of life consists in the exercise of one's energies, continual growth, constant change, the enjoyment of every new experience. To stop means simply to die. The eternal mistake of mankind is to set up an attainable ideal.

- Aleister Crowley

Exercise, Die, Constant, Energies

I can imagine myself on my death-bed, spent utterly with lust to touch the next world, like a boy asking for his first kiss from a woman.

- Aleister Crowley

Woman, Next, Imagine, Lust

The supreme satisfaction is to be able to despise one's neighbor and this fact goes far to account for religious intolerance. It is evidently consoling to reflect that the people next door are headed for hell.

- Aleister Crowley

Door, Next, Religious, Consoling

Indubitably, magic is one of the subtlest and most difficult of the sciences and arts. There is more opportunity for errors of comprehension, judgment and practice than in any other branch of physics.

- Aleister Crowley

Magic, Practice, Other, Errors

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

- Aleister Crowley

Law, Shall, Whole, Wilt

Science is always discovering odd scraps of magical wisdom and making a tremendous fuss about its cleverness.

- Aleister Crowley

Magical, Always, Cleverness, Scraps

Part of the public horror of sexual irregularity so-called is due to the fact that everyone knows himself essentially guilty.

- Aleister Crowley

Fact, Horror, Everyone, So-Called

Modern morality and manners suppress all natural instincts, keep people ignorant of the facts of nature and make them fighting drunk on bogey tales.

- Aleister Crowley

Nature, Natural, Them, Tales

Paganism is wholesome because it faces the facts of life.

- Aleister Crowley

Because, Wholesome, Paganism, Faces

To me a book is a message from the gods to mankind; or, if not, should never be published at all.

- Aleister Crowley

Book, Never, Mankind, Published

Falsehood is invariably the child of fear in one form or another.

- Aleister Crowley

Another, Form, Invariably, Falsehood

Intolerance is evidence of impotence.

- Aleister Crowley

Evidence, Impotence, Intolerance

I was not content to believe in a personal devil and serve him, in the ordinary sense of the word. I wanted to get hold of him personally and become his chief of staff.

- Aleister Crowley

Personal, Devil, Chief, Become

If one were to take the bible seriously one would go mad. But to take the bible seriously, one must be already mad.

- Aleister Crowley

Bible, Mad, Take, Seriously

The people who have really made history are the martyrs.

- Aleister Crowley

History, People, Made, Martyrs

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