Destiny is an absolutely definite and inexorable ruler. Physical ability and moral determination count for nothing. It is impossible to perform the simplest act when the gods say no. I have no idea how they bring pressure to bear on such occasions; I only know that it is irresistible.

Aleister Crowley

Categorized in : Ideas Determination Destiny

It is necessary that we stop, once for all, this ignorant meddling with other people's business. Each individual must be left free to follow his own path.

Aleister Crowley

ignorant path people

The Devil' is, historically, the God of any people that one personally dislikes... This serpent, SATAN, is not the enemy of Man, but He who made Gods of our race, knowing Good and Evil; He bade 'Know Thyself!' and taught Initiation. He is 'The Devil' of the Book of Thoth, and His emblem is BAPHOMET, the Androgyne who is the hieroglyph of arcane perfection... He is therefore Life, and Love.

Aleister Crowley

life-and-love men book

A man who is doing his True Will has the inertia of the Universe to assist him.

Aleister Crowley

inertia universe men

Balance every thought with its opposition. Because the marriage of them is the destruction of illusion.

Aleister Crowley

illusion balance destruction

My observation of the Universe convinces me that there are beings of intelligence and power of a far higher quality than anything we can conceive of as human; that they are not necessarily based on the cerebral and nervous structures that we know, and that the one and only chance for mankind to advance as a whole is for individuals to make contact with such beings.

Aleister Crowley

nervous quality chance

The joy of life consists in the exercise of one's energies, continual growth, constant change, the enjoyment of every new experience. To stop means simply to die. The eternal mistake of mankind is to set up an attainable ideal.

Aleister Crowley

mistake life mean

You can only accomplish your object in life by complete disregard of the opinions of other people.

Aleister Crowley

disregard opinion people

The key of joy is disobedience.

Aleister Crowley

disobedience keys joy

Every one interprets everything in terms of his own experience. If you say anything which does not touch a precisely similar spot in another man's brain, he either misunderstands you, or doesn't understand you at all.

Aleister Crowley

say-anything brain men

Magic is real. And reality... it is magical.

Aleister Crowley

magic real reality

Sex is the sacred song of the soul; Sex is the sanctuary of Self.

Aleister Crowley

self song sex

I was not content to believe in a personal devil and serve him, in the ordinary sense of the word. I wanted to get hold of him personally and become his chief of staff.

Aleister Crowley

devil ordinary believe

Having to talk destroys the symphony of silence.

Aleister Crowley

thelema symphony silence

Inevitably anyone with an independent mind must become 'one who resists or opposes authority or established conventions': a rebel. If enough people come to agree with, and follow, the Rebel, we now have a Devil. Until, of course, still more people agree. And then, finally, we have --- Greatness.

Aleister Crowley

independent greatness philosophy

To train the mind to move with the maximum speed and energy, with the utmost possible accuracy in the chosen direction, and with the minimum of disturbance or friction. That is Magick. To stop the mind altogether. That is Yoga.

Aleister Crowley

yoga mind moving

We must conquer life by living it to the full, and then we can go to meet death with a certain prestige.

Aleister Crowley

death-and-dying conquer prestige

Every man and every woman is a star.

Aleister Crowley

intriguing stars men

Your friends will notice at once that glib vacuities fail to impress, and hate you, and tell lies about you. It's worth it.

Aleister Crowley

failing hate lying

The Quest of the Holy Grail, the Search for the Stone of the Philosophers - by whatever name we choose to call the Great Work - is therefore endless. Success only opens up new avenues of brilliant possibility. Yea, verily, and Amen! the task is tireless and its joys without bounds; for the whole Universe, and all that in it is, what is it but the infinite playground of the Crowned and Conquering Child, of the insatiable, the innocent, the ever-rejoicing Heir of Space and Eternity, whose name is MAN?

Aleister Crowley

names men children

It's no good trying to teach people who need to be taught.

Aleister Crowley

trying people needs