Seven million people I turned on, and only one hundred thousand have come by to thank me

Seven million people I turned on, and only one hundred thousand have come by to thank me

Timothy Leary, the infamous psychologist and advocate for the use of psychedelic drugs, is often quoted as saying, “Seven million people I turned on, and only one hundred thousand have come by to thank me.” This statement encapsulates the controversial and polarizing nature of Leary’s work and legacy.

Leary rose to prominence in the 1960s as a proponent of the use of LSD and other hallucinogenic substances for therapeutic and spiritual purposes. He believed that these drugs had the potential to expand consciousness, promote personal growth, and even facilitate social and political change. Leary’s experiments with psychedelics at Harvard University attracted a large following of students and intellectuals who were eager to explore the boundaries of their own minds.

However, Leary’s advocacy for psychedelic drugs also brought him into conflict with the authorities and mainstream society. The government crackdown on LSD in the late 1960s led to Leary’s arrest and imprisonment, and he became a symbol of the counterculture movement’s struggle against the establishment. Despite his legal troubles, Leary remained unapologetic about his beliefs and continued to promote the use of psychedelics until his death in 1996.

The quote “Seven million people I turned on, and only one hundred thousand have come by to thank me” reflects Leary’s frustration with the lack of recognition and gratitude he received for his work. While millions of people may have experimented with LSD and other drugs as a result of Leary’s influence, only a small fraction of them have acknowledged his role in shaping their experiences. This discrepancy highlights the complex and often contradictory attitudes towards Leary and his legacy.

Some view Leary as a visionary who pushed the boundaries of human consciousness and challenged conventional wisdom about the mind and the self. Others see him as a reckless and irresponsible figure who contributed to the spread of drug abuse and addiction. The truth likely lies somewhere in between, as Leary’s impact on society and culture continues to be debated and reevaluated.