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. 1,158,808 quotes Who coined it · How we decide

English Italiano Polski עברית Français Português فارسی Español 中文 Русский Deutsch العربية हिन्दी 日本語 Ελληνικά Latina

Friendship

Love Friendship Happiness Hope Fear Courage Death Life Time War Peace Freedom Truth Wisdom Knowledge Science Art Music Nature Money Work Power God Beauty Laughter Family Success and failure Change Dreams Books and reading

“Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it; nothing is commoner than the name, nothing rarer than the thing.”
Jean de La Fontaine (1621–1695) said by 1695 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Parole de Socrate", as quoted in The Wordsworth Book of Humorous Quotations (1998), edited by C. Robertson
“For the young, death is an enemy they wish to try their strength against. For those of us a little older, she is an old friend, an old lover, but one we are not eager to meet again soon.”
Robert Jordan (1948–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Often you don't know whether a woman is friend, enemy or lover until it is too late. Sometimes, she is all three.”
Robert Jordan (1948–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Look out for your baby or your friend, of course. That is easy. The test of moral fiber is to stick up for those you relate to least, understand minimally, and do not think are that much like you.”
Ingrid Newkirk (born 1949) first seen 2002 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Keynote address at the 2002 "Animal Rights" conference
“The writer is a spiritual anarchist, as in the depth of his soul every man is. He is discontented with everything and everybody. The writer is everybody's best friend and only true enemy — the good and great enemy. He neither walks with the multitude nor cheers with them. The writer who is a writer is a rebel who never stops.”
William Saroyan (1908–1981) first seen 1958 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The William Saroyan Reader (1958)
“Lord, my body has been a good friend But I won't need it when I reach the end Miles from nowhere, Guess I'll take my time Oh yeah, to reach there”
Cat Stevens (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When Billy found he scarce could stand, "Help, help!" he cried, and stretch'd his hand, To faithful Henry calling: Quoth Hal, "My friend, I'm sorry for't; 'Tis not my practice to support A minister that's falling.”
Richard Porson (1759–1808) said by 1808 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Who's up ?" inquired Burke of a friend at the door, "Oh, no one," says Paddy, "tho' Pitt's on the floor.”
Richard Porson (1759–1808) said by 1808 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And here and there a human who saw the rightness of the proposition that Man could not, by mere self-assertion, be a special being; understanding that it was to his greater glory to take his place among the other things of life, as a simple thing of life, as a form of life that could lead and teach and be a friend rather than a thing that conquered and ruled and stood as one apart.”
Clifford D. Simak (1904–1988) said by 1988 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“O Death, our masked friend and maker of opportunities, when thou wouldst open the gate, hesitate not to tell us beforehand; for we are not of those who are shaken by its iron jarring.”
Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) said by 1950 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Trusting no man as his friend, he could not recognize his enemy when the latter actually appeared.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) said by 1864 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What is there in life except one's ideas. Good air, good friend, what is there in life? Is it ideas that I believe?”
Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) said by 1955 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“George, it has been seven months today since your reckless and wanton foreign policies killed my son, my big boy, my hero, my best-friend: Casey.”
Cindy Sheehan (born 1957) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Cindy Sheehan An Open Letter to George W. Bush from Cindy Sheehan Free Republic, (4 November 2004)
“What a friend we have in cheeses.”
David Lange (1942–2005) first seen 1998 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Source: New Zealand Wit & Wisdom (1998), p. 155.
“I think intellectuals should be fascinated by my rise, what it reveals about the time. My critics are irrelevant, though. It tells how much I'm getting to them by how vitriolic they are. They refuse to deal with the ideas. But reviews don't reflect anything; the books are selling. A friend told me, "The attacks make you.”
Camille Paglia (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Going through something difficult in your life, music for me is always a friend and something that helps you to figure things out. source”
Chris Martin (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let me tell you that my friend and I do not discriminate between humans. We do not ask what race or what religion he is from. He has to be a human being. That is all that's important for us.”
Theodor Herzl (1860–1904) first seen 1902 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Altneuland (1902)
“You see only the productions of second-rate folk who are in a hurry to get wealth and fame. The true knowledge, the deadly knowledge, is still kept secret. But, believe me, my friend, it is there.”
John Buchan (1875–1940) said by 1940 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But Parz was better than nothing: it offered stability, regulation, a framework to live in. People gripe about their tithes—and nobody’s going to pretend that the Committee gets it right all the time—but most of us would prefer taxes to living wild. With all respect to you, my friend.” He bit into his cake. “And that’s still true today; as true as it ever was.”
Stephen Baxter (born 1957) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We are unfashioned creatures, but half made up, if one wiser, better, dearer than ourselves — such a friend ought to be — do not lend his aid to perfectionate our weak and faulty natures.”
Mary Shelley (1797–1851) said by 1851 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am an unfortunate and deserted creature, I look around and I have no relation or friend upon earth. These amiable people to whom I go have never seen me and know little of me. I am full of fears, for if I fail there, I am an outcast in the world forever.”
Mary Shelley (1797–1851) said by 1851 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have good dispositions; my life has been hitherto harmless and in some degree beneficial; but a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes, and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster.”
Mary Shelley (1797–1851) said by 1851 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving.”
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You complain, friend Swift, of the length of my epigrams, but you yourself write nothing. Yours are shorter.”
Martial (40–104) said by 104 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Robert, after spending 48 hours with this fish, we have transcended the conventional "food-to-consumer" relationship. This fish is now my friend.”
Darby Conley (born 1970) first seen 2002 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Bucky Katt's Big Book of Fun, page 129 and daily strip for January 9, 2002
“Now you listen to me, you little party favor, I'm sick of your rotten attitude! I let you call me names and push me around because I consider you my friend, but I'm sure that if I wanted to, I could throw you around like a chew toy!!!”
Darby Conley (born 1970) first seen 2002 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: LoserPalooza, page 2 and daily strip for November 19, 2002
“Dick never thought that his bottle companion was a butt to aim at—only a friend to shake by the hand.”
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Certain it is that scandal is good brisk talk, whereas praise of one's neighbour is by no means lively hearing. An acquaintance grilled, scored, devilled, and served with mustard and cayenne pepper, excites the appetite; whereas a slice of cold friend with currant jelly is but a sickly, unrelishing meat.”
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Another old friend gone!”
Jesse Owens (1913–1980) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reported response to learning that his last remaining world record had been broken (31 December 1960); as quoted in Simpson’s Contemporary Quotations (1988) compiled by James B. Simpson
“I had one friend in high school, recently he hung himself with string, His note said "If livin' is the problem, well that's just baffling." And at the wake I waited around to see my ex-first love, And I barely recognized her but I knew exactly what she was thinkin' of .We sat quietly in the corner, whisperin' close about loss, And I remembered why I loved her and I asked her why I drove her off.”
Jenny Lewis (born 1976) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Most of the people who do this kind of work, do it out of love, like the love you'd show to an ailing friend. (2004) Popimage interview”
Grant Morrison (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You think I wuh-wuh-wuh-want to stay in here? You think I wouldn't like a con-con-vertible and a guh-guh-girl friend? But did you ever have people l-l-laughing at you? No, because you're so b-big and so tough! Well, I'm not big and tough.”
Ken Kesey (1935–2001) said by 2001 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ain't no angel gonna greet me. It's just you and I my friend. My clothes don't fit me no more. I walked a thousand miles Just to slip this skin.”
Bruce Springsteen (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Now a life of leisure and a pirate's treasure Don't make much for tragedy. But it's a sad man my friend who's livin' in his own skin And can't stand the company. Every fool's got a reason to feelin' sorry for himself And turn his heart to stone. Tonight this fool's halfway to heaven and just a mile outta hell, And I feel like I'm comin' home.”
Bruce Springsteen (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Here everybody has a neighbor, Everybody has a friend. Everybody has a reason to begin again.”
Bruce Springsteen (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Is it a gun, is it a knife? Is it a wallet, this is your life? It ain't no secret, It ain't no secret, No secret my friend. You can get killed just for living In your American skin.”
Bruce Springsteen (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A black friend of morbid wit said to me, ‘Doesn't O.J. know that we can f*** 'em now but we still can't kill 'em?’ . . .”
Carl Rowan (1925–2000) said by 2000 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The stranger is simply a friend I haven't met yet.”
Catherine Doherty (1896–1985) said by 1985 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Yo...on the amen, corner I stood lookin' at my former hood Felt the spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good Threw dirt on the casket, the hurt, I couldn't mask it Mixin down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered I choreographed seven steps to heaven and hell, waiting to exhale and make the bread leavened Veteran of a cold war its Chica-i-go for What I know or, whats known”
Common (rapper) first seen 1998 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Respiration", Black Star (1998)
“I'm telling you On what I feel Gonna catch your mind Dont shoot to kill Well, they say the sky's the limit, And to me that's really true, But, my friend you have seen nothing, Just wait 'til I get through.”
Michael Jackson (1958–2009) said by 2009 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Im giving you On a count three Just show your stuff Or let it be Im telling you Just watch your mouth I know your game What you're about! Well, they say the sky's the limit, And to me that's really true, But, my friend you have seen nothing, Just wait 'til I get through.”
Michael Jackson (1958–2009) said by 2009 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Well, they say the sky's the limit, And to me that's really true, But, my friend you have seen nothing, Just wait 'til I get through.”
Michael Jackson (1958–2009) said by 2009 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But never give your love, my friend, Unto a foolish heart”
Robert Hunter (1941–2019) said by 2019 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My friend James Morris heads the World Food Programme, whose task it is to feed the hungry. He recently told me, "If I could have just 1 per cent of the money spent on global armaments, no one in this world would go to bed hungry.”
Mohamed ElBaradei (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To owe an obligation to a worthy friend is a happiness, and can be no disparagement.”
Pierre Charron (1541–1603) said by 1603 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It would be foolish to assert that there is no power above mine. Only the attitude that I take toward it will be quite another than that of the religious age: I shall be the enemy of every higher power, while religion teaches us to make it our friend and be humble toward it.”
Max Stirner (1806–1856) said by 1856 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Dover 2005, p. 184
“Right in the Heart of the African Jungle a small white man lives. Now there is one extraordinary fact about him that he is the friend of all animals.”
Gerald Durrell (1925–1995) first seen 1935 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Written by Durrell at age ten (1935), from Gerald Durrell: An Authorized Biography by Douglas Botting (1999), p. 43,
“I got jury duty … and I didn't want to go, so my friend said, "You should write something really really racist on the form when you return it. Like, you should put 'I hate chinks'." And I said, "I'm not going to put that on there just to get out of jury duty. I don't want people to think that about me." So instead I wrote, "I love chinks." And who doesn't?”
Sarah Silverman (born 1970) first seen 2001 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Conan O'Brien Show (11 July 2001) In the original joke, Silverman had said "niggers" instead of "chinks", the network asked her to change it from the first to the latter. The network and O'Brien then apologized for …
“Knowledge and science is the fruit of paradise; in times of threat it is one's ally, in exile it keeps one company, and in solitude it is one's intimate friend and companion.”
Muhammad al-Baqir (677–733) said by 733 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I was talkin' with a friend of mine, Said a woman done hurt his pride. Told him that she loved him so, then Turned around and let him go. Then he said "you'd better watch your step" Or you're gonna get hurt yourself. Someone's gonna tell you lies Cut you down to size...”
Tom Petty (1950–2017) said by 2017 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source