--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must always remember to thank the CIA…" description: "\"We must always remember to thank the CIA and the Army for LSD. That's what people forget… They invented LSD to control people and what they did was giv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/john-lennon-322_army_we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia_534177.jpg" --- # We must always remember to thank the CIA and the Army for… ![“We must always remember to thank the CIA and the Army for LSD. That's what people forget… They invented LSD to control people and what they did was give us freedom.” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/john-lennon-322_army_we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia_534177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/john-lennon-322_army_we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia_534177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/john-lennon-322_army_we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia_534177.jpg) > “We must always remember to thank the CIA and the Army for LSD. That's what people forget… They invented LSD to control people and what they did was give us freedom.” [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. LSD was created by the CIA and Army, but its unintended effect was to grant people freedom. **In simple terms:** LSD originated as a control tool but led to freedom. Key Takeaway Question the unintended consequences of control. Themes freedom government subversion Mood critical inquisitive Type political philosophical When to use this quote - drug policy - civil liberties - artistic expression - ethical debate Key Concepts psychology political history Questions to Reflect On - Is freedom always a byproduct of control? - What responsibilities arise from unintended freedoms? A Different Perspective Control mechanisms can produce unpredictable outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Army Lsd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army-lsd-4480438/) [Cia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cia/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Invented Lsd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-lsd-4480437/) [Lsd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lsd/) [Lsd Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lsd-control-4480439/) [Lsd People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lsd-people-1643198/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychedelic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychedelic/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Thank Cia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank-cia-4480440/) ## Related quotes > [I have always had this very strong, call it a feeling, call it a prejudice, call it a conviction ... that the mysteries are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-have-always-had-this-very-strong-call-it-a-feeling-call-it-a/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [ \[LSD\] went on for years. I must have had a thousand trips. I used to just eat it all the time. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/lsd-went-on-for-years-i-must-have-had-a-thousand-trips-i-used-to-just/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Try LSD, 100mg intramuscular... I thought so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/try-lsd-100mg-intramuscular-i-thought-so/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [You can't go to an LSD or pot party unless you take it yourself. If I want to go, I must take drugs myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo-antonioni/you-can-t-go-to-an-lsd-or-pot-party-unless-you-take-it-yourself-if-i/) [Michelangelo Antonioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo-antonioni/) > [I became very sensitive to what will happen to all this and all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hofmann/i-became-very-sensitive-to-what-will-happen-to-all-this-and-all-of-us/) [Albert Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hofmann/) > [Sometimes I smoked opium. And I also took LSD - for a while, quite a lot of LSD, in fact. But I never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-beltracchi/sometimes-i-smoked-opium-and-i-also-took-lsd-for-a-while-quite-a-lot/) [Wolfgang Beltracchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-beltracchi/) > [ The first note in that octave \[of our cultural transformation\], the do, was the discovery of LSD by Albert Hofmann in 1943. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-metzner/the-first-note-in-that-octave-of-our-cultural-transformation-the-do/) [Ralph Metzner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-metzner/) > [My total sellout to LSD, marijuana, and hashish, and to sex with virtually any attractive man, landed me in the hospital for four months.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-atkins/my-total-sellout-to-lsd-marijuana-and-hashish-and-to-sex-with/) [Susan Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-atkins/) > [LSD was not a pharmacological agent generating exotic experiences by its interaction with the neurophysiological processes in the brain. This remarkable substance was clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislav-grof/lsd-was-not-a-pharmacological-agent-generating-exotic-experiences-by/) [Stanislav Grof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislav-grof/) > [Reality became for me a problem after my experience with LSD. Before, I had believed there was only one reality, the reality of everyday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hofmann/reality-became-for-me-a-problem-after-my-experience-with-lsd-before-i/) [Albert Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hofmann/) > [Wrong and inappropriate use has caused LSD to become my problem child,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hofmann/wrong-and-inappropriate-use-has-caused-lsd-to-become-my-problem-child/) [Albert Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hofmann/) > [“Listen to anything and take it apart again. Spectrum analysis, in my head. I can break down chords, and timbres, and words too into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/listen-to-anything-and-take-it-apart-again-spectrum-analysis-in-my/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [In many instances, LSD actually produced terrifying and deleterious effects instead of beneficial effects, because of misuse, because it was a profanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hofmann/in-many-instances-lsd-actually-produced-terrifying-and-deleterious/) [Albert Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hofmann/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ \[In the 1960s\]...you could take LSD but you couldn't wear a pantsuit. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsey-johnson/in-the-1960s-you-could-take-lsd-but-you-couldn-t-wear-a-pantsuit/) [Betsey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsey-johnson/) ## More by John Lennon > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Today's folk song is rock and roll. Although it happened to emanate from America, that's not really important in the end because we wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/today-s-folk-song-is-rock-and-roll-although-it-happened-to-emanate/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. ... Think peace, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-want-to-get-peace-you-can-get-it-as-soon-as-you-like-if-we-all/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The reason why kids are crazy is because nobody can face the responsibility of bringing them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-reason-why-kids-are-crazy-is-because-nobody-can-face-the/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Love is like a flower - you've got to let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/love-is-like-a-flower-you-ve-got-to-let-it-grow/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) [Explore all 681 John Lennon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must always remember to thank the CIA and the Army for LSD. That's what people forget… They invented LSD to control people and what they did was give us freedom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Lennon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia-and-the-army-for-lsd-that-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia-and-the-army-for-lsd-that-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/john-lennon-322_army_we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia_534177.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/john-lennon-322_army_we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia_534177.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/john-lennon-322_army_we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia_534177.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must always remember to thank the CIA and the Army for LSD. That's what people forget… They invented LSD…” — John Lennon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Lennon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must always remember to thank...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia-and-the-army-for-lsd-that-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-must-always-remember-to-thank-the-cia-and-the-army-for-lsd-that-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```