The Wit and Wisdom of Dan Hansen (Part 1)

At Dan's funeral service. Dan's father was a master
craftsman, hence the boat and rigging. Dan likewise
was an astonishing artist.

While our friend Dan Hansen was among us, he was sensitive about being exploited as a handicapped person. He did, however, have much to say about philosophy, life and the world we live in, and most of all he wanted to make this world a better place for everyone. 

As the 19th century Scottish poet and essayist Alexander Pope once said, "If a man is worth knowing at all, he is worth knowing well." Dan Hansen was such a man. 

I had the privilege of being his friend and collaborator on numerous projects that included treatments for screenplays, stories, games and a novel of such importance that it became the center of our times together for two-and-a-half years. Here are a handful of quotes and observations by Dan that will give you the flavor of this inspiring man.

DAN QUOTES

 

Of his 2015 Art Show
“In order to create that, I had to get inside the mind of God.”

 

Dan’s Life Experience

“The whole life I’ve lived has been fascinating… and sort of intoxicating.”

 

Dan’s Life Experience

“I live in a tiny box but I am not a tiny box. 

I barely understand able-bodied people and they

absolutely don’t understand me.”

 

Pronouns

I / it   “I’ve felt like a teddy bear with a slot for double A batteries. “Oh, he talks.”

 

Regarding our Novel & AI

“It's a new crack cocaine, really, I mean, it's pure idea, adrenaline, yeah, even if I'm dog tired from no sleep, I muster up the energy. Maybe it takes me an hour to warm up in the morning, but after I get my initial warm up, I keep going. Can't stop. I just can't stop, and I'm, I'm wired till the end of the day despite no sleep.”

 

AI 

“If you can win an argument with AI and get it to acknowledge that you won the argument, you can get it to eat out of your hand and you can tell it, can command it what to do, almost like breaking a horse.”

 

Dan’s World

"I'm doing the impossible because I live the impossible. Look at me. Everything is impossible. I wake up an impossible. That's what I do. I've been doing that my entire life."

 

Problem Solving

"Escapism is a fake escape.

Solving the problem is a real escape.

The Act of Solving a problem.” 

Is as important as Solving the Problem."

 

On the Novel

"I want to get super granular, but I want to get super expansive, too."

 

On the Novel

Dan: I want to dedicate this book to God.

Ed: Bach did that with all his composing. “Te Deum” That is, “To God.”

Dan: That is so great. I love GodI

On Politics
“At this stage I have no political opinions or views to express. It's a giant circus from where I sit. Yet it's a failed circus. We need a new idea. I think a real travelling circus show might provide more structure and coherence as a political party. We should elect academically trained clowns for office. The Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp in Buffalo Minnesota might be a good start for aspiring young statesmen in the midwest. Their slogan is "You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm!". This is more than just a slogan to me; it's a vision statement. This is the type of direction, leadership, and will-to-power attitude required to restore this once great nation back to its former glory.”

* * * 

It is my intention and hope to share more details about the projects Dan and I worked on together over the past 12 years. If you wish to receive this in your inbox, there's a "Subscribe" form in the right-hand column. If it doesn't work, please let me know.

Dan Hansen died December 28, 2025, due to pneumonia and complications of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He would have been 47 this March. Read his full obituary here.