Christopher Hitchens Advice for Writers

Every day, the New York Times carries a motto in a box on its front page. "All the News That's Fit to Print," it says. It's been saying it for decades, day in and day out. I imagine most readers of the canonical sheet have long ceased to notice this bannered and flaunted symbol of its mental furniture. I myself check every day to make sure that the bright, smug, pompous, idiotic claim is still there. Then I check to make sure that it still irritates me. If I can still exclaim, under my breath, why do they insult me and what do they take me for and what the hell is it supposed to mean unless it's as obviously complacent and conceited and censorious as it seems to be, then at least I know I still have a pulse. You may wish to choose a more rigorous mental workout but I credit this daily infusion of annoyance with extending my lifespan.

"Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you."
— Christopher Hitchens

English-born author and journalist whose books, essays, and journalistic career span more than four decades. He has been a columnist and literary critic at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and became a media fellow at the Hoover Institution in September 2008

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[aguteempasil]

Hitch is the man.

[Murphy1844]

I'm the writer he's addressing here. No, I'm not good-- that's not the point. I have to write. That's how I feel. I don't have a choice.

[goodvibesallround]

Write Drunk....Edit Sober. Ernest Hemingway.

[davemuscato]

@superclaydude Agnostic & atheist are not exclusive terms. Agnostic means "not 100% certain on the existence or non-existence of gods." Atheist means "lacking faith that gods exist."

[superclaydude]

@aguteempasil I'm an agnostic, not an atheist, so I disagree with him, but this man is inspiring. Except on political issues.

[manthasagittarius]

@samslick90 Many people learn by the time they are teenagers that the whole concept of karma is a comfortable, smug and self-satisfied self-deception. It doesn't seem to have occurred to you, or you'd be abashed to come off talking that way.

[MrSmokingfly]

@samslick90 What does his death have to do with him saying he likes it when bad people die. His drinking and smoking habit certainly did not effect his ability to think, and i know people who have esophageal cancer and never drank or smoked in their life. Go crawl back to whatever religious sanctuary you came out of and bitch to your pastor because hes the only one who gives a shit about your view. The least you could do is discredit his information not his character. Retard

[ZachClooney]

I miss Christopher Hitchens. Yet, his books are with us, forever. And we have these videos on You Tube. Thanks for this upload.

[GrissomLovesSara]

@helperthrope Plus putting 'tard' after anything someone likes is a new trend for assholes these days. Of course, the thing has to be only one syllabel LOL or it doesn't sound cool enough for the slick people who do it.

[GrissomLovesSara]

@helperthrope But he's slick, can't you read his name?? He knows everything and one of the greatest thinking minds this world has seen knows nothing. RIP Hitch

[StaceyTaylorNet]

RIP Hitch.

Such a legend, so glad I lived during the same era as this wonderful man. Tragic there won't be another like him.

[samslick90]

@helperthrope

Spoken like a true Hitchtard. Go watch some WWF, play some Grand Theft Auto or read TMZ.