‘Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed. I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book’s autograph. I am a proud non-reader of books.’
– Kanye West
Should you find yourself humping today (i.e. working on a Wednesday), you’re probably saying to yourself, I need a sensible dose of Kanye West to get me through this slog. If you did indeed say that to yourself, that is fine and dandelions. You deserve it.
In the spirit of keeping things light as you hump your way through your day, I present a man who is so linguistically talented that he elevates himself past a mere Quote of the Day. Transcending all rules of logic, grammar, punctuation, diction, syntax, courtesy, and any other telltale sign that might make him remotely like the rest of us, I present nine more quotes that are sure to have you reach for the stars on the back of a humpback whale…
1. ‘Whoa by 50 percent [I am more influential than] Stanley Kubrick, Apostle Paul, Picasso… f****** Picasso and Escobar. By 50 per cent more influential than any other human being.’
2. ‘When you’re the absolute best, you get hated on the most.’
3. ‘My goal, if I was going to do art, fine art, would have been to become Picasso or greater… That always sounds so funny to people, comparing yourself to someone who has done so much, and that’s a mentality that suppresses humanity…’
4. ‘One of my biggest achilles heels has been my ego. And if I, Kanye West, can remove my ego, I think there’s hope for everyone.’
5. ‘I don’t think there’s a living celebrity with more weapons formed against him, but I don’t think there’s one more prosperous.’
6. ‘So, the voices in my head told me go, and then I just walked up, like, halfway up the stage… But I just didn’t really want to take away from Beck’s moment, or the time he’s having to talk. It was kind of a joke – like the Grammys themselves.’
7. ‘I am God’s vessel. But my greatest pain in life is that I will never be able to see myself perform live.’
8. ‘I think what Kanye West is going to mean is something similar to what Steve Jobs means. I am undoubtedly, you know, Steve of internet, downtown, fashion, culture. Period. By a long jump. I honestly feel that because Steve has passed, you know, it’s like when Biggie passed and Jay Z was allowed to become Jay Z.’
9. ‘I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade, I will be the loudest voice.’
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Richard H. Harris 