20 Richard Kadrey Quotes That Don't Hold Back

Richard Kadrey—the urban fantasy rockstar who makes us feel like we’re in a seedy dive bar, hashing out the complexities of life and death over cheap whiskey. If you’ve ever lost sleep binge-reading Sandman Slim‘s escapades, you’re in the right corner of the internet. And for the uninitiated, think of Kadrey’s prose a part Tarantino flick, part Tim Burton dreamscape, with snark flying as fast as the action. Ready? Perfect! Here are’s a collection of Kadrey’s best quotes, packed with razor-sharp wit and unconventional wisdom. Enjoy!

1. “When you’re born in a burning house, you think the whole world is on fire. But it’s not.”
― Aloha from Hell

2. “Sometimes I think my sins are the only thing holding me together.”
― The Kill Society

3. “There’s the other secret of love. Our hearts don’t age at the same rate as the rest of our bodies. You can be old on the inside long before you’re old outside.”
― The Grand Dark

4. “Memories are bullets. Some whiz by and only spook you. Others tear you open and leave you in pieces.”
― Kill the Dead

5. “Enemies will kill you with a knife in the back. Friends will kill you with kindness. Either way you’re dead.”
― Kill the Dead

6. “Try not to sing too many sad songs for yourself. The universe already hates you. Self-pity isn’t going to help.”
― Sandman Slim

7. “Most people are idiots. There is nothing worse than idiots who tell you their opinions.”
― Kill the Dead

8. “The universe is a meat grinder and we’re just pork in designer shoes, keeping busy so we can pretend we’re not all headed for the sausage factory.”
― Kill the Dead

9. “Vices shouldn’t be safe. They’re what remind us we’re alive and mortal.”
― Kill the Dead

10. “There’s the opposite of love at first sight. There are people walking the earth that the moment you meet them, you want to punch them and keep punching them.”
― Sandman Slim

11. “Damn, it feels great to hurt idiots.”
― Sandman Slim

12. “Whoever said Hell is other people was wrong. Hell is other people in your house.”
― Ballistic Kiss

13. “It doesn’t matter if you and everyone else in the room are thinking it. You don’t say the words. Words are weapons. They blast big bloody holes in the world. And words are bricks. Say something out loud and it starts turning solid. Say it loud enough and it becomes a wall you can’t get through.”
― Kill the Dead

14. “Good intentions and a dime won’t get you a damned thing in this world.”
― Sandman Slim

15. “Some people can’t help but bring out the not necessarily righteous parts of your personality. Like how you meet someone and instantly know they’re a full-time professional victim, and no matter how hard you try, something takes over and you can’t help needling them.”
― Aloha from Hell

16. “My head is full of monsters and I’m one of them.”
― Sandman Slim

17. “The winners are the schemers and the ruthless who take what they want, not the suckers standing around hoping for an even break.”
― The Kill Society

18. “I’m not a huge fan of other people’s logic.”
― Killing Pretty

19. “Abandon all hope ye who piss me off.”
― Killing Pretty

20. “If f***ing up is power, I should be the Hulk by now.”
― Butcher Bird