Who said “If you think dope is for kicks and for thrills, you’re out of your mind. There are more…”?

Verified

Billie Holiday. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLady Sings the Blues (1956)

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Authors A–Z
“If you think dope is for kicks and for thrills, you’re out of your mind. There are more kicks the fuck to be had in a good case of paralytic polio or by living in an iron lung. If you think you need stuff to play music or sing, you’re crazy. It can fix you so you can’t play nothing or sing nothing.”
— Billie Holiday
VerifiedLady Sings the Blues (1956) · evidenceDrugs

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Lady Sings the Blues (1956).

APA

Holiday, B. (n.d.). If you think dope is for kicks and for thrills, you’re out of your mind. There are more kicks the fuck to be had in a good case of paralytic polio or by living in an iron lung. If you think you need stuff to play music or sing, you’re crazy. It can fix you so you can’t play nothing or sing nothing. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14026-if-you-think-dope-is-for-kicks-and/

MLA

Holiday, Billie. “If you think dope is for kicks and for thrills, you’re out of your mind. There are more kicks the fuck to be had in a good case of paralytic polio or by living in an iron lung. If you think you need stuff to play music or sing, you’re crazy. It can fix you so you can’t play nothing or sing nothing.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14026-if-you-think-dope-is-for-kicks-and/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Holiday, Billie. “If you think dope is for kicks and for thrills, you’re out of your mind. There are more kicks the fuck to be had in a good case of paralytic polio or by living in an iron lung. If you think you need stuff to play music or sing, you’re crazy. It can fix you so you can’t play nothing or sing nothing.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14026-if-you-think-dope-is-for-kicks-and/.

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More quotes by Billie Holiday

“You can be up to your boobies in white satin, with gardenias in your hair and no sugar cane for miles, but you can still be working on a plantation.”
VerifiedLady Sings the Blues (1956) · evidenceDetails & citeSlavery
“I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession, let alone two years or ten years. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close-order drill or exercise or yodeling or something, not music.”
VerifiedLady Sings the Blues (1956) · evidenceDetails & citeSong and Singing
“In this country, don't forget, a habit is no damn private hell. There's no solitary confinement outside of jail. A habit is hell for those you love. And in this country it's the worst kind of hell for those who love you.”
VerifiedLady Sings the Blues (1956) · evidenceDetails & citeAddiction
All 5 Billie Holiday quotes →