--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Besides the drugs and counterculture, I…" description: "\"Besides the drugs and counterculture, I started talking about myself, which is the first thing you do when you are a writer.\" — George Carlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/george-carlin-155_counterculture_besides-the-drugs-and-counterculture-i-s_1603369.jpg" --- # Besides the drugs and counterculture, I started talking… ![“Besides the drugs and counterculture, I started talking about myself, which is the first thing you do when you are a writer.” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/george-carlin-155_counterculture_besides-the-drugs-and-counterculture-i-s_1603369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/george-carlin-155_counterculture_besides-the-drugs-and-counterculture-i-s_1603369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/george-carlin-155_counterculture_besides-the-drugs-and-counterculture-i-s_1603369.jpg) > “Besides the drugs and counterculture, I started talking about myself, which is the first thing you do when you are a writer.” [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer often begins by focusing on themselves, exposing personal flaws as a creative starting point. **In simple terms:** Writers start by talking about themselves. Key Takeaway Begin with personal truth to engage audiences. Themes self‑reflection creativity authenticity Mood candid provocative Type humorous philosophical When to use this quote - stand‑up - writing workshops - personal essays Key Concepts ego narrative vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - What personal story can you share to illustrate a larger point? - How do you keep self‑focus constructive? A Different Perspective Self‑centered narratives can alienate listeners if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Counterculture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterculture/) [Counterculture Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterculture-started-6102525/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drugs Counterculture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-counterculture-6102526/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-talking/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Thing Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-writer-746927/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I hope I'm beginning a new cycle of energy and creativity. If so, it'll really be my third career. The first was as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-hope-i-m-beginning-a-new-cycle-of-energy-and-creativity-if-so-it-ll/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I did LSD and peyote in the late Sixties, before I got into cocaine. That was concurrent with my change from a straight comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-did-lsd-and-peyote-in-the-late-sixties-before-i-got-into-cocaine/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Writing books takes a long time, and one thing a writer must do is learn to live with his or her project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bock/writing-books-takes-a-long-time-and-one-thing-a-writer-must-do-is/) [Charles Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bock/) > [“There's no such thing as writer's block," she proclaimed. "If you can't write it's because you don't have anything to say. Or you're avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-she-proclaimed-if-you-can-t/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“The best thing about being a writer is that 'work' is always something you love, plus usually accompanied by tea, coffee and cakes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-l-harding/the-best-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-work-is-always-something/) [Jamie L. Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-l-harding/) > [The first thing a writer has to do is find a new source of income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/the-first-thing-a-writer-has-to-do-is-find-a-new-source-of-income/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block, the problem is idea block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-the-2/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [The most original thing a writer can do is write like himself. It is also his most difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-most-original-thing-a-writer-can-do-is-write-like-himself-it-is/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [“The worst thing you can do as a writer is waste people's time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/the-worst-thing-you-can-do-as-a-writer-is-waste-people-s-time/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [The first thing a writer should be is - excited. He should be a thing of fevers and enthusiasms. Without such vigor, he might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-first-thing-a-writer-should-be-is-excited-he-should-be-a-thing-of/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [There is no such thing as writer's block for writers whose standards are low enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stafford/there-is-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-for-writers-whose-standards/) [William Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stafford/) > [That's the thing about the writer's life is that you have to have self-discipline. Otherwise you'll never get paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heisserer/that-s-the-thing-about-the-writer-s-life-is-that-you-have-to-have/) [Eric Heisserer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heisserer/) > [And life is a good thing for a writer. It's where we get our raw material, for a start. We quite like to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/and-life-is-a-good-thing-for-a-writer-it-s-where-we-get-our-raw/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The great thing about being a writer is that you have a long, perhaps frighteningly long time in which to do your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/the-great-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-you-have-a-long-perhaps/) [Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/) > [“I think... the most brilliant thing about being a writer,is that if you don't like the way the world is, you can create your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maegan-cook/i-think-the-most-brilliant-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-if-you/) [Maegan Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maegan-cook/) ## More by George Carlin > [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-ve-built-up-so-much-speed-that-you-hit-70-after-that-it-s-a-day/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-the-good-part-about-all-those-executions-in-texas-fewer/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) [Explore all 1,098 George Carlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More Counterculture quotes > [There is a book called San Francisco Tape Music Centre:1960s Counterculture and the Avant-Garde and this book describes everything that you want to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/there-is-a-book-called-san-francisco-tape-music-centre-1960s/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [Dark influences from the American past congregate among us still. If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [The counterculture has nothing to do with Dolce & Gabbana having a 'Hippy Summer' or something. Street kids, and kids who want to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/the-counterculture-has-nothing-to-do-with-dolce-gabbana-having-a/) [Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/) > [I hope I'm beginning a new cycle of energy and creativity. If so, it'll really be my third career. The first was as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-hope-i-m-beginning-a-new-cycle-of-energy-and-creativity-if-so-it-ll/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [... there was purity and there was the dream, and the adventure, and there was the counterculture aspect. It was like shove society, shove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-banks/there-was-purity-and-there-was-the-dream-and-the-adventure-and-there/) [Jim Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-banks/) > [“...All of these writings could be reduced to mere “thought-provoking content,” for the system devours everything in its path like a never-satisfied monster—even its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sov8840/all-of-these-writings-could-be-reduced-to-mere-thought-provoking/) [Sov8840](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sov8840/) > [“I'm staying out of this. It's the whole culture of all-consuming nowness I try to avoid. Ever present and screaming its message in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/i-m-staying-out-of-this-it-s-the-whole-culture-of-all-consuming/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“Although a youth culture was in evidence by the 1950s, the first obvious and dramatic manifestation of a culture generated by peer-orientation was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/although-a-youth-culture-was-in-evidence-by-the-1950s-the-first/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [My generation's apathy. I'm disgusted with it. I'm disgusted with my own apathy too, for being spineless and not always standing up against racism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/my-generation-s-apathy-i-m-disgusted-with-it-i-m-disgusted-with-my/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Except in the areas of civil rights and medical marijuana, the legacy of the sixties counterculture has been largely superficial. 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