Augusten Burroughs Quotes

Powerful Augusten Burroughs for Daily Growth

About Augusten Burroughs

Augusten Burroughs, born on April 25, 1955, is an acclaimed American memoirist, essayist, and novelist. Raised in Algonquin, Illinois, Burroughs was adopted as a baby by an upper-middle-class family who moved to Connecticut when he was young. His early life was marked by emotional turmoil due to his adoptive father's mental illness and eventual suicide. These formative experiences heavily influenced Burroughs's writing, with themes of family dynamics, personal identity, and psychological trauma recurring throughout his work. After a troubled adolescence that included stints in several psychiatric institutions, Burroughs moved to New York City, where he found success as a copywriter in the advertising industry. In 1994, Burroughs published his first memoir, "Running with Scissors," which details his unconventional upbringing under the care of a psychiatrist who ran a mental health facility. The book became an international bestseller and established Burroughs as a compelling storyteller. In 2003, Burroughs released "Possible Side Effects," a memoir about his struggles with addiction and recovery. His other notable works include the memoirs "Dry" (2005), "Magical Thinking" (2010), and the novels "A Wolf at the Table" (2011) and "Sylvie's Love" (2015). Burroughs's writing, characterized by wit, candor, and a unique narrative voice, has resonated with readers worldwide. His memoirs have been translated into over 30 languages, and he continues to be a significant figure in contemporary American literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Normal is an ideal, not a reality."

This quote by Augusten Burroughs emphasizes that the concept of "normal" is more of an aspirational or societal expectation rather than a universally achievable state. It suggests that striving for perfection according to society's standards, often referred to as 'normal,' may be unrealistic because everyone has unique experiences and circumstances. This quote encourages us to embrace our individuality, accept our differences, and recognize the richness of diversity in humanity.


"The opposite of addiction is not sobriety; it's connection."

This quote implies that addressing addiction isn't just about abstaining from substances or behaviors, but also about establishing meaningful connections with others. In other words, the root cause of addiction can often be a lack of human connection and understanding. By fostering strong relationships, individuals can find comfort, support, and a sense of belonging that may help them overcome their addictions and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.


"My mother was an alcoholic. My father was a mystery."

This quote suggests that the speaker's upbringing was marked by instability and unpredictability, largely due to their mother's addiction, which likely dominated family life and created a chaotic environment. The father's absence or mysterious nature further emphasizes this sense of uncertainty and longing for understanding in the speaker's childhood. Overall, it highlights the profound impact that parents, especially those struggling with substance abuse, can have on their children's lives.


"Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up."

The quote "Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up" by Augusten Burroughs emphasizes the power of presence and participation in our lives, especially during challenging situations or events. Showing up means to be present physically, emotionally, or mentally – it's about acknowledging and facing situations rather than avoiding them. This act of bravery can have a significant impact, as it demonstrates commitment, support, and compassion for oneself and others. By simply showing up, we contribute to creating positive change, building connections, and fostering resilience in our personal and professional lives.


"I am my own experiment. More often than not, I fail. But I keep going."

This quote reflects an individual's determination to embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth through personal trials and errors. It suggests that the person is willingly subjecting themselves to experiments in life, recognizing that failure is not only inevitable but also an essential part of the process. Despite frequent failures, they persevere, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and a strong desire for self-improvement.


I really look at my childhood as being one giant rusty tuna can that I continue to recycle in many different shapes.

- Augusten Burroughs

Childhood, Tuna, Rusty, Different Shapes

As a writer, you can't allow yourself the luxury of being discouraged and giving up when you are rejected, either by agents or publishers. You absolutely must plow forward.

- Augusten Burroughs

Giving Up, Allow, Rejected, Discouraged

I knew that if I wrote a new book every six months or every year, if I continued to read great books, eventually I would write something worthy of publication. I understood I might be in my forties or my fifties or even my sixties, but I felt confident that it would happen.

- Augusten Burroughs

Book, Confident, Year, Publication

I was on the cover of a lot of newspapers. I was on the cover of USA Today for every single day for a month. I was on the masthead, so I tend to get recognized a lot, and in weird places. It's always flattering, and it's always odd. It's always at the worst possible time.

- Augusten Burroughs

Cover, Recognized, USA, Every Single Day

Reading takes solitude and it takes focus.

- Augusten Burroughs

Focus, Reading, Takes, Solitude

As a child, I was never drawn toward depraved or extreme situations; I really wanted a normal little childhood. Unfortunately, that's just not what happened.

- Augusten Burroughs

Childhood, Normal, Depraved

I'm like the guy who prepares your taxes or a dentist. I'm very conservative and boring in a lot of ways.

- Augusten Burroughs

Conservative, Like, Very, Prepares

But I can also write in crappy motel rooms, while standing in line, or sitting in the dentist's chair.

- Augusten Burroughs

Line, Rooms, Crappy, Motel

With my own memoirs, they are truthful, and I write everything fully expecting to some day end up televised on Court TV, and I'm fully prepared to be challenged legally on it.

- Augusten Burroughs

Some, Expecting, TV, Truthful

I can't tell you how much I love Target and Costco, that kind of culture, because it's something I never felt a part of. I've always felt like a tourist because I have never fit in anywhere.

- Augusten Burroughs

Love, Tell, Part, Costco

Because I've lived in one room my entire life, working at the same table that you use to pay bills at and eat at. It's going to be nice to have actual space.

- Augusten Burroughs

Going, Use, Actual, Table

When people meet me, many times they're very surprised because they expect someone who is kind of wacky with seven piercings and very hip and cool and New York City, and I'm not.

- Augusten Burroughs

City, New York City, Very, Surprised

But my favorite band is Curbside Life, out of Chicago.

- Augusten Burroughs

Life, Band, Favorite, Chicago

I'm always prepared for the worst. I was prepared to have the book come out, sell seven copies, and have to keep working in advertising, so it was just great that it was received so well and by such a huge audience.

- Augusten Burroughs

Audience, Always, Prepared, Copies

Once I decided to write, to be published, I knew it would happen.

- Augusten Burroughs

Happen, Decided, Would, Published

I was in advertising for years. That was cushy, you know? It's pretty cushy in a lot of ways, but I hated it.

- Augusten Burroughs

Pretty, Ways, Lot, Hated

My parents had this relationship that was really terrifying. I mean, the level of hatred that they had, and the level of physical abuse - my mother would beat up my father, basically - and I think I was drawn to images on television that were bright and reflective.

- Augusten Burroughs

Abuse, I Think, Terrifying, Reflective

I like, though, that people have a hunger to connect with other people. They're desperate to know that you're not lying to them or misleading them.

- Augusten Burroughs

Other, Like, Though, Hunger

The secret to being a writer is that you have to write. It's not enough to think about writing or to study literature or plan a future life as an author. You really have to lock yourself away, alone, and get to work.

- Augusten Burroughs

Think, Study, Away, Future Life

Marriage is overdone. As long as there are people, people are going to find it interesting.

- Augusten Burroughs

Marriage, Find, Going, Overdone

I think people tend to see the bigger point, which is maybe not fitting in and feeling like you didn't have the childhood that you expected you would have, or that you felt lonely or struggled with drugs and alcohol or just that you were able to achieve your dreams.

- Augusten Burroughs

Achieve, Maybe, I Think, Your Dreams

I've just finished my next collection, Possible Side Effects, and I'm now working on a collection of holiday stories as well as a memoir about my relationship with my father.

- Augusten Burroughs

Next, Memoir, Side, Finished

Before I'm a writer, I'm definitely a reader and when I read memoir, I really want it to be true.

- Augusten Burroughs

Before, Read, Reader, Memoir

And I tend to listen to NPR when I'm not writing.

- Augusten Burroughs

Writing, Listen, Tend, NPR

My only ritual is to just sit down and write, write every day.

- Augusten Burroughs

Every Day, Only, Just, Ritual

There's never a false note in a Berg novel.

- Augusten Burroughs

Never, Note, Novel, False

I love to both give and receive very old books.

- Augusten Burroughs

Love, Give, Very, Receive

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