Who said “So cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It…”?

Verified

William S. Burroughs. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Western Lands (1987)

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“So cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It cannot be done. You can't fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.”
— William S. Burroughs
VerifiedThe Western Lands (1987) · evidenceCheating

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Western Lands (1987).

APA

Burroughs, W. S. (n.d.). So cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It cannot be done. You can't fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5381-so-cheat-your-landlord-if-you-can-and/

MLA

Burroughs, William S. “So cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It cannot be done. You can't fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5381-so-cheat-your-landlord-if-you-can-and/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Burroughs, William S. “So cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It cannot be done. You can't fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/5381-so-cheat-your-landlord-if-you-can-and/.

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“This is a war universe. War all the time. That is its nature. There may be other universes based on all sorts of other principles, but ours seems to be based on war and games.”
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“Now what sort of man or woman or monster would stroke a centipede I have ever seen? ''And here is my good big centipede!'' If such a man exists, I say kill him without more ado. He is a traitor to the human race.”
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All 35 William S. Burroughs quotes →