Famous quotes
Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,269 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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“To succeed in science, you have to avoid dumb people (here I was still following Luria's example). Now that might sound inexcusably flip, but the fact is that you must always turn to people who are brighter than yourself.”
James D. Watson (1928–2025) said by 2025 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“May we gain the time needed to succeed.”
Frank R. Wallace (1932–2006) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Keynote Address for The Neo-Tech 2003 World Summit. Pax Neo-Tech. http://www.neo-tech.com/neotech/pax-b1/a3.php
“The object of policy is not to prove one's moral worth, but to succeed.”
A. J. P. Taylor (1906–1990) first seen 1942 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Time and Tide (23 May 1942), quoted in Chris Wrigley, A.J.P. Taylor: A Complete Annotated Bibliography and Guide to His Historical and Other Writings (1980), p. 284
“Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour. Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld - and it will be.”
Justin Trudeau (born 1971) first seen 2014 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement on Twitter condemning violent attacks on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Donald Trump supporters, attempting to sabotage the confirmation of Joe Biden's victory in the Electoral College during the 2020 U.S. presi…
“As you know, we Canadians love to boast when our artists succeed on the world stage. Quite frankly, throughout your career, Ryan, both on and off the screen, you've given us so much to swagger about.”
Justin Trudeau (born 1971) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: In a pre-recorded message, Trudeau salutes Canadian actor and personal friend Ryan Reynolds, the recipient of the 36th annual American Cinematheque Award (November 17, 2022) | Video
“Other days, other ways; and, although they have now been greatly improved upon, the old country midwives did at least succeed in bringing into the world many generations of our forefathers, or where should we be now? — (ch. 8, 'The Box' )”
Flora Thompson (1876–1947) said by 1947 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I was appointed by Hitler to succeed Canaris because it was well known and proven that my abilities were greater than those of Canaris.”
Ernst Kaltenbrunner (1903–1946) said by 1946 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: To Leon Goldensohn, 6/6/46, from "The Nuremberg Interviews" by Leon Goldensohn, Robert Gellately - History - 2004
“To believe that any action based on an ignorance of fact can possibly succeed, is to abandon the use of reason.”
Rose Wilder Lane (1886–1968) said by 1968 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To succeed in enticing investors, we submit that whoever becomes President should focus on 6 areas of priority:”
Francis Escudero (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The assassination must be attempted at all costs. Even if it should not succeed, an attempt to seize power in Berlin must be made. What matters now is no longer the practical purpose of the coup, but to prove to the world and for the records of history that the men of the resistance dared to take the decisive step. Compared to this objective, nothing else is of consequence.”
Henning von Tresckow (1901–1944) first seen 1944 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 1944. Fest, Joachim. Plotting Hitler's Death, p. 236.
“MR BROWN You know that the policy in Iraq cannot succeed. Democracy cannot be exported with a gun. You can be the Great Leader and the Great Peacemaker”
Chris Eubank (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I remember, the reasoning of a man determined to arrive that I tried to lull to sleep the inward voice that cried, "You have no right to put on paper, to give to the public what this noble writer said to you, supposing that he was receiving a poet, not a reporter." But I heard also the voice of my chief saying, "You will never succeed.”
Paul Bourget (1852–1935) said by 1935 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I always try to make myself as widely understood as possible, and if I don't succeed I consider it's my own fault.”
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) first seen 1942 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: New York Times, February 9, 1942.
“If we succeed at all in accounting for that which is unusual, for that which is as yet inexplicable to us, and in ascertaining the reality of the occult, [121] we shall bring about a condition which might almost be called paradoxical. We shall gradually make the subjective the objective.”
Alice Bailey (1880–1949) said by 1949 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“the more he studied Buffet, the less he thought he could be copied; indeed, the lesson of Buffet was: To succeed in a spectacular fashion you had to be spectacularly unusual.”
Michael Lewis (author) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right — stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.”
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) first seen 1854 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reported as an inscription quoting Lincoln in an English college in The Baptist Teacher for Sunday-school Workers : Vol. 36 (August 1905), p. 483. The portion beginning with "stand with anybody..." is from the 16 Octobe…
“The child in her wanted to do as she pleased, cling to impossible hopes. The woman in her wanted to make sound decisions, succeed even if it meant sacrifice. The woman would win; that was inevitable. But the child would not go quietly.”
N. K. Jemisin (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I learned early that business is business and politics is politics. The proof is how few important businessmen have made good politicians. They may think that they are very smart about everything because they made millions of dollars by digging a hole in the ground and finding oil, but the talent and luck needed to become rich are not the same talent and luck needed to succeed on Parliament Hill.”
Jean Chrétien (born 1934) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Women were strange creatures. They fell in love with a man and then sought to change him. Mostly they succeed - to spend the rest of their lives wondering how they could have married such boring conformists.”
David Gemmell (1948–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[Popper's skepticism about scientific truth in The Logic of Scientific Discovery is] that kind of reaction, of which the epitome is given in Aesop's fable of the fox and the grapes. The parallel would be complete if the fox, having become convinced that neither he nor anyone else could ever succeed in tasting grapes, should nevertheless write many long books on the progress of viticulture.”
David Stove (1927–1994) first seen 1982 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Popper and After: Four Modern Irrationalists, Oxford: Pergamon, 1982. Page 52.
“The dreams of "leaving it up to the market" or of returning to a politically neutral gold standard cannot succeed because the nature of the monetary system has a profound impact on the interests of powerful groups and states. Affected groups and states will always try to intervene in the operation of the system to make it serve their interests.”
Robert Gilpin (1930–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I’ve got an impossible job on my hands,” he told them, “and if I succeed at it, there’s an inconceivable one to follow.”
Murray Leinster (1896–1975) said by 1975 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To succeed as a pioneer you need two things: ignorance and purpose. Ignorance of just how tough the path ahead will be. And a driving purpose, which keeps you going nonetheless.”
Lewis Pugh (born 1969) first seen 2014 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 26 November 2014, Twitter
“A major danger in using highly abstractive methods in political philosophy is that one will succeed merely in generalizing one’s own local prejudices and repackaging them as demands of reason. The study of history can help to counteract this natural human bias.”
Raymond Geuss (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You get set on a path and, if you succeed, you get better parts, but of the same kind. If you don't take a lot of trouble, you get stuck like that.”
Fenella Fielding (1927–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Where we fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum... influences our choice of friends and partners, and how we make conversation, resolve differences and show love. It affects the careers we choose and whether or not we succeed at them.”
Susan Cain (born 1968) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Revenge of the introverts: It's often assumed extroverts do best in life, but a new book reveals quite the opposite... ," The Daily Mail, March 25, 2012.
“We learn history not in order to know how to behave or how to succeed, but to know who we are.”
Leszek Kołakowski (1927–2009) first seen 1986 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Idolatry of Politics", U.S. Jefferson Lecture speech (1986)
“[T]he French are on the point of making a great effort in Portugal...which Lord Wellington...will find himself unable to resist. But even if such an effort could not take place or should not succeed, I am convinced the period when we shall be obliged to give up the contest from an absolute inability to support the expense, is fast approaching.”
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764–1845) first seen 1807 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Lord Grenville (1 September 1811), quoted in Rory Muir, Britain and the Defeat of Napoleon, 1807–1815 (1996), p. 157
“If the superior advantages enjoyed by devotees of the status quo are to paralyze us into impotence, then, of course, no strategy of revolution can succeed. All the significant reforms and revolutions in history have been wrought in the face of terrific opposition.”
Kirby Page (1890–1957) said by 1957 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Particularly if the Republicans nominate a more moderate candidate such as Mitt Romney, Obama will not be able to rely on partisan animosity to succeed where job approval has failed. And, given all that, he might not even run.”
Dick Morris (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We are in a new era. The Almighty has destined us to serve this country and helped to succeed in our Revolution, which aimed at destroying injustice and tyranny, from which we suffered for many long years.”
Abd al-Karim Qasim (1914–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That we shall succeed, I have no doubt. But years of toil and perseverance, of restraint and even privation, lie ahead. We have to free ourselves from the grip of economic imperialism, and protect our freedom. We have at the same time to work ceaselessly for the complete liberation and unity of Africa.”
Kwame Nkrumah (1909–1972) said by 1972 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The main reason I personally am accumulating assets is in order to fund this..to make the biggest contribution I can to making life multi-planetary. If things go super well it might be kind of in the 10-year timeframe...but there is a huge amount of risk. It is going to cost a lot. There is a good chance we don’t succeed.”
Elon Musk (born 1971) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Musk, talking about the propect of colonising Mars. Quoted in "Musk eyes plan for human travel to Mars by 2025", Financial Times (September 27 2016).
“The new concept of Extreme Programming (XP) is gaining more and more acceptance, partially because it is controversial, but primarily because it is particularly well-suited to help the small software development team succeed... XP is controversial, many software development sacred cows don't make the cut in XP; it forces practitioners to take a fresh look at how software is developed.”
“My quotations from Newton suggest the motive which induced him to take a stand against the use of hypotheses, namely, the danger of becoming involved in disagreeable controversies. ...Newton could no more dispense with hypotheses in his own cogitations than an eagle can dispense with flight. Nor did Newton succeed in avoiding controversy.”
Florian Cajori (1859–1930) said by 1930 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Explanatory Appendix, Sir Isaac Newton's Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy and His System of the World (1934) Tr. Andrew Motte, p. 674
“It is my dream that one day, great buildings like this one will exist in every corner of the world so every child can grow up with the opportunity to succeed.”
Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Think of a frog as a functional machine designed to produce baby frogs. This is the Darwinian view, and is really what evolution is all about. In order to succeed, the frog has to stay alive long enough to grow up and get pregnant or get some female frog pregnant. That means it has to do two things. It has to eat. And it has to avoid being eaten.”
Frederik Pohl (1919–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You have been given an unprecedented chance to put the past behind you," the Chancellor was saying. "The mission on which you're about to embark is dangerous, but your bravery will be rewarded. If you succeed, your infractions will be forgiven, and you'll be able to start new lives on Earth.”
Kass Morgan (born 1984) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The men who succeed are the efficient few. They are the few who have the ambition and will power to develop themselves.”
Herbert N. Casson (1869–1951) said by 1951 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Herbert N. Casson cited in: Supervisory Management. Vol. 1 (1955). p. 60
“Our party needs the youth but the youth also need the parties to help them organise. Neither will succeed in overthrowing this regime without the other. We don't want the international community to label our revolution an Islamic one.”
Tawakkol Karman (born 1979) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is only by long and laborious study, and by the comparison of a number of individuals, that it will be possible to succeed in establishing correct average proportions each age, and in settling the limits betwixt they can be made to vary, without ceasing to be accurate and faithful to nature—our first and guide in this difficult study.”
Adolphe Quetelet (1796–1874) said by 1874 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We must learn two things. One is to see ourselves as others see us. We apply one yardstick when we wish to appraise other people. Secondly, we cannot succeed in anything if we act in fear of other people's opinions.”
C. Rajagopalachari (1878–1972) said by 1972 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rajagopalachari, quoted in: R. K. Murthi (1979) Rajaji, life and work, p. 155
“I consequently tried it in such cases, and where there has not been destruction, or irreparable organic injury to the auditory apparatus, I can confidently say, I know of no means equal to hypnotism, for benefiting such cases. Of course, it cannot suit all cases, but I am satisfied it will succeed in a numerous class of cases, and in some which bid defiance to all other known modes of treatment.”
James Braid (1795–1860) said by 1860 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“These are people who want to foil elections... has been always defiant, and always will be despite the pain and fear. It will succeed.”
Salwa Bughaighis (1963–2014) first seen 2014 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Salwa Bugaighis in phone interview by al-Nabaa network interrupted by gunfire, 25 June 2014: Quoted in: Chris Stephen. "Libya in shock after murder of human rights activist Salwa Bugaighis," The Guardian, Thursday 26 Ju…
“Communal mobilisation in the long run will not succeed in India because Indian society cannot be mobilized communally. Even the last elections have shown that communities, religious communities, castes did not vote solidly for one party.”
K. R. Narayanan (1920–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“...but if you succeed in persuading this poor devil to part with every penny of his own profits, in stripping him to the skin, in picking him to the bone, Jonathan Wild was a fool to you, that's all. You have my full and free consent to do whatever you please with the fellow, and god send him a good deliverance. But you won't forget to lend me the cash!”
Joseph Ritson (1752–1803) said by 1803 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I quickly realized that you had to have a good idea of the future if you were going to succeed as an inventor.”
Ray Kurzweil (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Political philosophy seems often to reside at a distance from the world. Principles are one thing, politics another, and even our best efforts to live up to our ideals seldom fully succeed.”
Michael Sandel (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It appears that in the lapse of ages, the sea alternately encroaches on and retreats from the land, and the districts it formerly occupied become the habitation of terrestrial animals and vegetables;—but other revolutions succeed, the sea returns to its ancient bed, and the countries from which it retires, are again fitted for the reception of their former inhabitants.”
Gideon Mantell (1790–1852) said by 1852 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You will have more regrets for the things you didn't try than the ones you tried and didn't succeed at.”