Original artwork, not a still
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas · 1971
Buy the ticket, take the ride.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The line is a carnival barker's bargain: you chose to come, so you don't get to complain. It has turned into a general motto for committing to a risky choice, from gap years to start-ups, and it often travels as a motivational quote, shorn of the very bad weekend it comes from.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Fear and Loathing in Las VegasShow the scene
The line is Duke's own narration, a piece of advice to the reader as the trip with Dr. Gonzo starts to escalate. It comes with a warning that the possibility of complete mental and physical collapse is now very real, and that if the ride gets heavier than you had in mind, you could chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion. The passage ends with Thompson's tag: tune in, freak out, get beaten.
Sources (1)
- Hunter S. Thompson (Wikiquote)whole pageReference checked
Context reviewed
