Christopher Hitchens Quotes

A collection of quotes by Christopher Hitchens.

Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011) was a highly influential British-American author, journalist, and public intellectual. Known for his sharp wit, fearless criticism, and contrarian views, Hitchens greatly contributed to political and cultural discussions throughout his career.

Born in Portsmouth, England, Hitchens attended the prestigious Balliol College, Oxford, where he became involved in left-wing politics and developed his writing skills. In the late 1970s, he moved to the United States and began working as a correspondent for various publications, including The Nation and Vanity Fair. He established himself as an incisive and bold writer, tackling a wide range of topics such as religion, literature, history, and foreign policy.

Hitchens gained notoriety for his outspoken atheism and criticism of organized religion, particularly in his book "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything." He was a fervent advocate for secularism, freedom of expression, and human rights. Hitchens also strongly opposed totalitarian regimes and was an ardent supporter of the Iraq War, a stance that was met with both admiration and criticism.

Throughout his career, Hitchens authored numerous books, including "Letters to a Young Contrarian" and "Hitch-22: A Memoir." He was a regular contributor to various media outlets and engaged in lively debates and discussions on television and in public forums.

Christopher Hitchens passed away in 2011, leaving behind a profound intellectual legacy and a reputation as one of the most influential and controversial thinkers of his time.

It doesn't happen to me anymore, because a fresh generation of Africans and Asians has arisen to take over the business, but in my early years in Washington, D.C., I would often find myself in the back of a big beat-up old cab driven by an African-American veteran. I became used to the formalities of the : on some hot and drowsy Dixie-like afternoon I would flag down a flaking Chevy. Behind the wheel, leaning wa-aay back and relaxed, often with a cigar stub in the corner of his mouth (and, I am not making this up, but sometimes also with a genuine porkpie hat on the back of his head) would be a grizzled man with the waist of his pants somewhere up around his armpits. I would state my desired destination. In accordance with ancient cabdriver custom, he would say nothing inresponse but simply engage the stickshift on his steering wheel and begin to cruise in a leisurely fashion. There would be a pause. Then: 'You from England?' I would always try to say something along the lines of 'Well, I'm in no position to deny it.' This occasionally got me a grin; in any case, I always knew what was coming next. 'I was there once.' 'Were you in the service?' 'I sure was.' 'Did you get to Normandy?' 'Yes, sir.' But it wasn't Normandy or combat about which they wanted to reminisce. (With real combat veterans, by the way, it almost never is.) It was England itself. 'Man did it know how to rain and the warm beer. Nice people, though. Real nice.' I would never forget to say, as I got out and deliberately didn't overtip (that seeming a cheap thing to do), how much this effort on their part was remembered and appreciated.

Christopher Hitchens