Anton LaVey quotes

Anton LaVey was an American author, occultist, and the founder of the Church of Satan. His writings and philosophy laid the foundation for modern Satanism and inspired a worldwide subculture. He became a controversial and influential figure in alternative religious movements. Here are 77 of his quotes:

Definition of Good and Evil: Good is what you like. Evil is what you don't like. (Anton LaVey)
Satanism is not a white light religion; it is a religion of the flesh, the mundane, the carnal - all of which are ruled by Satan, the personification of the Left Hand Path. View quote
Anton LaVey
It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful. View quote
Anton LaVey
The devils of past religions have always, at least in part, had animal characteristics, evidence of man's constant need to deny that he too is an animal, for to do so would serve a mighty blow to his impoverished ego. View quote
Anton LaVey
ALL religions of a spiritual nature are inventions of man. He has created an entire system of gods with nothing more than his carnal brain. Just because he has an ego, and cannot accept it, he has to externalize it into some great spiritual device which he calls "God". View quote
Anton LaVey
Satanists are encouraged to indulge in the seven deadly sins, as they need hurt no one; they were only invented by the Christian Church to insure guilt on the part of its followers. View quote
Anton LaVey
The seven deadly sins of the Christian Church are: greed, pride, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, and sloth. Satanism advocates indulging in each of these "sins" as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification. View quote
Anton LaVey
Man prides himself on being the only animal who can modify his nature, yet when he chooses to do so he is called a phony. View quote
Anton LaVey
Pride is great up to the point you begin to throw out the baby with the bathwater. The rule of Satanism is: if it works for you, great. When it stops working for you, when you've painted yourself into a corner and the only way out is to say, I'm sorry, I made a mistake, I wish we could compromise somehow, then do it. View quote
Anton LaVey
The Satanist realizes that man, and the action and reaction of the universe, is responsible for everything, and doesn't mislead himself into thinking that someone cares. View quote
Anton LaVey
On Saturday night, I would see men lusting after half-naked girls dancing at the carnival, and on Sunday morning when I was playing organ for tent-show evangelists at the other end of the carnival lot, I would see these same men sitting in the pews with their wives and children, asking God to forgive them and purge them of carnal desires. And the next Saturday they'd be back at the carnival or some other place of indulgence. I knew then that the Christian church thrives on hypocrisy, and that man's carnal nature will out no matter how much it is purged or scoured by any white-light religion. (Anton LaVey)
Behold the crucifix; what does it symbolize? Pallid incompetence hanging on a tree. View quote
Anton LaVey
No hoary falsehood shall be a truth to me; no stifling dogma shall encramp my pen! View quote
Anton LaVey
Satanism encourages its followers to indulge in their natural desires. Only by doing so can you be a completely satisfied person with no frustrations which can be harmful to yourself and others around you. Therefore, the most simplified description of the Satanic belief is: indulgence instead of abstinence. View quote
Anton LaVey
When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him. View quote
Anton LaVey
Satanism advocates practicing a modified form of the Golden Rule. Our interpretation of this rule is: "Do unto others as they do unto you"; because if you "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," and they, in turn, treat you badly, it goes against human nature to continue to treat them with consideration. You should do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but if your courtesy is not returned, they should be treated with the wrath they deserve. View quote
Anton LaVey
You cannot love everyone; it is ridiculous to think you can. If you love everyone and everything you lose your natural powers of selection and wind up being a pretty poor judge of character and quality. If anything is used too freely it loses its true meaning. Therefore, the Satanist believes you should love strongly and completely those who deserve your love, but never turn the other cheek to your enemy! View quote
Anton LaVey
A Satanist practices the motto, "If a man smite thee on one cheek, smash him on the other!" Let no wrong go unredressed. View quote
Anton LaVey
Never enter a business deal with anyone who has less than yourself. View quote
Anton LaVey
There are many who would take my time. I shun them. There are some who share my time. I am entertained by them. There are precious few who contribute to my time. I cherish them. View quote
Anton LaVey
We are so inculcated with guilt that we think that weakness is a sin or that it is some crime against nature to be submissive. (Anton LaVey)
There is no heaven of glory bright, and no hell where sinners roast. Here and now is our day of torment! Here and now is our day of joy! Here and now is our opportunity! Choose ye this day, this hour, for no redeemer liveth! View quote
Anton LaVey
Every religion in the world that has destroyed people is based on love. View quote
Anton LaVey
After an inferior man has been taught a doctrine of superiority he will remain as inferior as he was before his lesson. He will merely assume himself to be superior, and attempt to employ his recently-learned tactics against his own kind, whom he will then consider his inferiors. With each inferior man enjoying what he considers his unique role, the entire bunch will be reduced to a pack of strutting, foppish, self-centered monkeys gamboling about on an island of ignorance. There they will play their games under the supervision of their keeper, who was and always will be a superior man. View quote
Anton LaVey
Hair on a man's chest is thought to denote strength. The gorilla is the most powerful of bipeds and has hair on every place on his body except for his chest. View quote
Anton LaVey