Christopher Hitchens Quotes

There will always be some people who think for themselves, even among the self-appointed guardians of the great mass who, after having thrown off the yoke of immaturity themselves, will spread about them the spirit of a reasonable estimate of their own value and of the need for every man to think for himself.

Any man who is really a man must learn to be alone in the midst of others, to think alone for others, and, if necessary, against others.

I don't mean to say that I'm about to state my credo here on this page, but merely to affirm, sincerely for the first time in my life, my belief in man as an individual and independent entity. Certainly not independence in the everyday sense of the word, but pertaining to a freedom and mobility of thought that few people are able - or even have the courage - to achieve.

The hallmark of courage in our age of conformity is the capacity to stand on one's own convictions - not obstinately or defiantly

I can't always live my life for everybody else.

I am not in this world to live up to other people's expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.

I understand it's difficult but you've got to think about yourself, you know, and not just follow the crowd.

I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay.' Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man. I'm here as his partner, but he is his own man. He has to decide who he wants to be, and that's not for me to do for him. Or vice versa.

You don't build your character by doing what everybody else is doing.

Don't let other people tell you what you want.

I am definitely an individual.

To be one's self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity.

I always say it's worth doing what you want to do, not letting people manipulate you. It's worth holding out. It's worth having pride.

Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.

I think a lot of people have lost respect for the individual, you know, the individual, the person who doesn't conform.

You can't live your life trying to please people. You be courteous and you be respectful, but you've got to do things in the way that you want to do them.

Just in general, no matter what you're doing, be true to yourself. Never let anyone else dictate how you live your life.

Liberty belongs only to those who have the gift of reason.

It is long since I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value.

The true woman will not be exponent of another, or allow another to be such for her. She will be her own individual self... Stand or fall by her own individual wisdom and strength.

My choices in life have been unconventional, and that's my business. But I do want to live responsibly and truthfully without hiding.

We must be our own before we can be another's.

I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!

My parents have always taught me to be myself and to follow my instincts.

There's nothing, nobody can pay me enough money and nobody can do enough for me to wear something I don't want.