Top 10 Craziest Things Charles Manson Has Ever Said

It’s an age-old question mankind has pondered for centuries: “If God created everything, who created God?” well, apparently we have the head of the Manson Family to thank for that. During this especially uncomfortable interview, Charles Manson cites God as his best friend, having created him. While that’s already a pretty nutty thing to say, what ensues will raise your eyebrows to a whole new level. Upon being asked if he himself is Jesus Christ, Manson explains that there are actually many Jesuses all over the world. Okay, it is believed by some that God appears in many different forms, but Manson’s assessment probably isn’t what most people have in mind.

Charles Manson was convicted of first-degree murder, but he did not directly kill even one of the victims for whom he went to jail. Rather, he ordered members of his quote unquote “Family” to carry out the Tate/LaBianca murders. So when Manson told Heidi Schulman in 1987 that he “never killed anyone,” there’s arguably some accuracy to his words. However, Manson’s follow-up statement makes about as much sense as Helter Skelter. Is Manson implying that he can kill people using his own mind or that he can get into other people’s head and influence them to commit murder? In any case, it’s nothing short of bonkers.

Believe it or not, Manson wanted to be a rock musician and has released various albums since he rose to infamy in the early ‘70s. In 2003, thirteen of his recordings from 1967 were finally released on an album entitled “All the Way Alive.” The whole CD is littered with strange comments, but a standout moment has got to be when Manson makes this oxymoronic statement: “I was so smart when I was a kid that I learnt that I was dumb fast.” Socrates made a similar proclamation when he coined the phrase, “I know one thing; that I know nothing.” Unlike Socrates, though, Manson probably won’t go down as one of the great philosophers in most people’s books.

While Manson has been in the public eye for the better part of forty years, he’s still a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. In this interview, a reporter tries to get to the center of this notorious figure, asking Manson to sum himself up in a sentence. Following a series of bizarre facial expressions that would make Jim Carrey jealous, the snickering Manson replies with one word: “Nobody.” An awkward pause ensues, after which Manson proceeds to describe himself in a variety of ways. Most disturbing of all, Manson states that if you get too close to him, he’s “a straight razor.” We didn’t think it was possible, but Manson’s an even bigger question mark now.

In 1994, ABC News aired a haunting jailhouse interview journalist Diane Sawyer conducted with Manson. Never one to shy away from blunt questions, Sawyer inevitably asks her subject, “Is Charlie Manson crazy?” Manson doesn’t deny that he has a few loose screws, but as far as he’s concerned, this makes no difference in today’s world. To a certain extent, perhaps everyone is indeed at least a little crazy in this wonderland we call earth. If you sat down and had a tea party with Manson, though, it’s safe to say that most of us would feel like Alice in the Mad Hatter’s presence.

By now, you’ve more than likely noticed that most of the things Charles Manson says are difficult to analyze. However, this statement is so out-there that it could be mistaken for an alien speaking another language. In the aforementioned interview with Heidi Schulman, Manson turns the tables and starts asking the questions. We have no idea what Manson meant by that last question, but the gibberish that follows is even more incomprehensible. Is Manson mocking the reporter or did he just turn into one of the Looney Tunes? Honestly, neither explanation would surprise us.

Heidi Schulman’s interview with Manson was laced with unhinged ramblings, but their meeting reached the pinnacle of creepy towards the end. Once again, the cult leader suggests that he didn’t kill anyone. If he started murdering people, however, Manson swears we’d all be in trouble. As if that’s not eerie enough, Manson also states that his children are coming, like he’s setting up the sequel to a horror picture. What makes these threats especially ironic is that Manson essentially claimed in the same interview that he wouldn’t kill somebody if given the opportunity. Then again, Mr. Manson is anything but consistent.

Manson sparked the 1969 killing spree through “Helter Skelter,” a term he derived from a popular Beatles song. Manson told his followers that Helter Skelter referred to a looming apocalyptic race war between whites and blacks that the Tate/LaBianca murders could help instigate. He suggested that during this race war, his Family would hide underground to emerge only after the blacks had claimed victory. The Family would then seize control from them to run the world. Of course, Manson contradicted this at his trial, saying “Helter Skelter is confusion. Confusion is coming down around you fast. If you can't see the confusion coming down around you fast, you can call it what you wish.” Either way, it sounds like a trip.

Charles Manson and Ted Bundy might be among the most infamous criminals in American history, but that doesn’t mean they would’ve been two peas in a pod. In this interview, Manson is asked for his opinion on Bundy, who had been executed in 1989. In response, Manson basically calls the serial killer a bunch of names. He also challenges Bundy’s masculinity. Manson doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Bundy’s views on pornography either. As troubling as Manson’s comments are, it’s also darkly humorous to hear him basically turn into a troll with a severe potty mouth.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Charles Manson Is An Illusion

- Killing Someone Is Like Walking to the Drugstore

Throughout this list, each entry has offered a glimpse into Charles Manson’s twisted mind. In arguably his most unsettling moment ever captured on film, Manson looks inside himself and expresses what he sees: “the good, bad, the evil.” As for how much evil is in there, Manson claims it’s all relative. Following an unnerving cackle, Manson goes on to describe his mind even further. And as for his jail cell, it’s not a limiting to him as you’d think. However you interpret these words, chances are you’ll be left chilled to the core.