Weekly Share: Hunter Thompson on Living a Meaningful Life

Hunter Thompson (1937-2005), the American journalist and author, was only 20 years old when he wrote this letter to his friend Hume Logan in response to a request for life advice. It is a remarkable letter to write at any age; at 20 it is astounding. 

“… we do not strive to be firemen, we do not strive to be bankers, nor policemen, nor doctors. WE STRIVE TO BE OURSELVES… we must make the goal conform to the individual, rather than make the individual conform to the goal. 

...beware of looking for goals: look for a way of life. Decide how you want to live and then see what you can do to make a living WITHIN that way of life. 

… Is it worth giving up what I have to look for something better? I don’t know - is it? Who can make that decision but you? But even by DECIDING TO LOOK, you go a long way toward making the choice.” 

The letter is also part of the beautiful collection Letters of Note.

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