The world is like a ride at an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it, you think it’s real ‘cause that’s how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down, and around and around. It has thrills and chills, and it’s very brightly colored, and it’s very loud, and it’s fun–for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time and they begin to question: “Is this real, or is this just a ride?” And other people have remembered and they come back to us and they say: “Hey, don’t worry, don’t be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride.” And we–kill those people. “Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride. Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry, look at my big bank account, and my family, this has to be real.” It’s just a ride. But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that. You ever notice that? And let the demons run amok. But it doesn’t matter–because–it’s just a ride. And we can change it anytime we want. It’s only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings of money, a choice right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one. Here’s what we can do to change the world right now to a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defense each year and instead spend it feeding, clothing, and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace.
–Bill Hicks