"He would use amphetamines to stay awake because he would have late night maneuvers that would go way into the early morning hours and he was given pills to stay up for the long hours"
About this Quote
The phrase "late night maneuvers" is especially revealing. It borrows the language of work and strategy, sidestepping the messier truth that these were often social marathons in a closed world of handlers, hangers-on, and constant motion. Calling them "maneuvers" turns indulgence into mission, keeping the star myth intact: he isn't partying, he's operating. It's a subtle kind of myth maintenance, the sort that happens when everyone around a famous person learns to describe chaos as routine.
There's also a quiet indictment embedded in "he was given pills". Passive voice shifts focus from individual choice to system: doctors, entourages, and an entertainment machine that treated chemical management as standard practice. Coming from Presley, the tone isn't sensational; it's weary and factual, which makes it more damning. The quote captures a mid-century celebrity economy where stamina was commodified, sleep was negotiable, and addiction could masquerade as professionalism until the bill came due.
Quote Details
| Topic | Health |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Presley, Priscilla. (2026, January 16). He would use amphetamines to stay awake because he would have late night maneuvers that would go way into the early morning hours and he was given pills to stay up for the long hours. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/he-would-use-amphetamines-to-stay-awake-because-101816/
Chicago Style
Presley, Priscilla. "He would use amphetamines to stay awake because he would have late night maneuvers that would go way into the early morning hours and he was given pills to stay up for the long hours." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/he-would-use-amphetamines-to-stay-awake-because-101816/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"He would use amphetamines to stay awake because he would have late night maneuvers that would go way into the early morning hours and he was given pills to stay up for the long hours." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/he-would-use-amphetamines-to-stay-awake-because-101816/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.

