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
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Dreams
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“The saint is the man who acts as if he had died and returned to life; having already ceased to be "himself" in the earthly sense, he has no intention whatever of returning to that dream, but maintains himself in a kind of wakefulness, which the world with its narrowness and impurities cannot understand.”
Frithjof Schuon (1907–1998) said by 1998 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My idea, my dream, my goal, is to go out and legitimize this sport and compete at the Olympic Games with my peers in the football arena.”
Emmitt Smith (born 1969) first seen 1996 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Doug Robinson (February 10, 1996) "Honest! Emmitt Is Going For Gold", The Deseret News, p. D1
“If you admit your wildest dream & uncover why you want it, you have a big key to make tomorrow a better day.”
David Allen (born 1945) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 28 May 2010
“I love musical theatre and my dream is to do Once On This Island.”
Syesha Mercado (born 1987) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rebecca Lynne Tan, "Swan song for Syesha", The Straits Times (Singapore), May 17, 2008.
“Bill Gates has 90 billion dollars … If I had 90 billion dollars, I wouldn’t have it for long because I would just dream of all the crazy stuff I could do with it. This guy, 90 billion dollars. He could buy every baseball team and make them all wear dresses and still have 88 billion dollars.”
Louis C.K. (born 1967) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Welcome to my library! Ever since my high school days, books and magazines have been to my mind what friends are in the flesh. Each and every one of these books and articles-- a fraction of the 12,000 volumes that I share my house with-- has contributed to expanding my dream.”
Patch Adams (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You do not quite get what I mean. Herr Frankenstein was interested only in human life. First to destroy it, then recreate it. There you have his mad dream.”
Garrett Fort (1900–1945) said by 1945 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When will the dead world cease to dream, When will the morning break?”
William Winter (author) first seen 1919 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Night Watch, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
“For milkmaids and queens and gipsy-princesses Dream and kiss blindfold or starve upon guesses.”
Thomas Sturge Moore (1870–1944) first seen 1914 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reason Enough", line 7; from The Sea is Kind (London: Grant Richards, 1914) p. 75.
“It's impossible to explain what I felt in that moment, just very, very happy to win this title. For me, it is a dream to play in this tournament. But to win, I never imagined something like this.”
Rafael Nadal (born 1986) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: After beating five time champion Roger Federer in the 2008 Men's Wimbledon Final
“My dream is to fly. Oh, my rainbow it is too high.”
Ruslana Korshunova (1987–2008) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Model's Web rants pined for love" in Daily News (29 June 2008)
“No dream his life was—but a fight! Could any Beatrice see A lover in that anchorite?”
Thomas William Parsons (1819–1892) said by 1892 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Far beneath the tainted foam That frets above our peaceful home, We dream in joy and wake in love Nor know the rage that yells above.”
John Gardiner Calkins Brainard (1795–1828) said by 1828 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Deep, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919). See also Harriet Beecher Stowe, When winds are raging o'er the upper ocean.
“Love is a beautiful dream.”
William Sharp (writer) first seen 1919 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Cor Cordium, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
“Ah, the strange, sweet, lonely delight Of the Valleys of Dream.”
William Sharp (writer) first seen 1919 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Dream Fantasy, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
“I'm not going to allow Mr. Mulroney to sell out our birthright, I'm not going to let Mr. Mulroney destroy a great 120 year old dream called Canada.”
John Turner (1929–2020) first seen 1988 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: repeated comment during 1988 Federal Election campaign in opposition to the Free Trade Agreement.()
“Like a heartbeat. Something inside me. Some dream. I think it's being a dreamer as a child. Dreamy kids become actors, don't they?”
Michael Gambon (1940–2023) said by 2023 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The more you try to describe a dream the further it eludes your grasp, retreating before the advance of the words, growing cooler and cooler and paler and paler, until, when you have recorded it all, there is nothing of what it was really like left in your memory.”
Michael Frayn (born 1933) first seen 1965 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Tin Men (London: Collins, 1965) p. 59.
“One knows that later Giacometti broke this domination surrealist influence of Breton, and he became completely interested again in the figure, he became figurative – he did nothing in the end but portraits of his brother and so on, and all very.. ..not realistic, but interested in life, in nature, and not so much in the dream or in the fantasy.”
Henry Moore (1898–1986) first seen 1981 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quote in 'Henry Moore in Spain' / 'Henry Moore interview', c. 1981, HMF Library; as cited in Henry Moore writings and Conversations, ed. Alan Wilkinson, University of California Press, California 2002, p. 152
“The 'American Dream' of the middle class has all but disappeared, substituted with people struggling just to buy next week's groceries. Heaven forbid the car breaks down!”
Timothy McVeigh (1968–2001) said by 2001 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Politicians are further eroding the 'American Dream' by passing laws which are supposed to be a 'quick fix', when all they are really designed for is to get the official re-elected. These laws tend to "dilute" a problem for a while, until the problem comes roaring back in a worsened form much like a strain of bacteria will alter itself to defeat a known medication.”
Timothy McVeigh (1968–2001) said by 2001 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Exponential regularly releases new versions, advertising each one as being a step closer to the consumer’s dream of AI: a butler that is utterly loyal and attentive from the moment it’s switched on. To Ana this upgrade sequence seems like a walk to the horizon, providing the illusion of progress while never actually getting any closer to the goal.”
Ted Chiang (born 1967) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I keep thinking about blood. I dream about it. Wake up thinking about it. Pretty soon I'll be writing morbid emo poetry about it.”
Cassandra Clare (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thou art gone from my gaze like a beautiful dream, And I seek thee in vain by the meadow and stream.”
George Linley (1797–1865) said by 1865 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Thou art gone, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
“I see what Gene is driving at. To dream of changing the whole universe in accordance with a set of local preconceptions!...Oh, it’s ridiculous!” “A missionary,” Gene repeated with a solemn nod. “By definition: a person who does without intending it more harm than good.”
John Brunner (1934–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My spirit is old; and some black lot awaits me On my long road. Some dream accurst, inveterate, suffocates me Still with its load. So young – yet hosts of dreadful thoughts appal me, Sick and opprest. Come! and from shadowy phantoms disenthral me, Friend.”
Alexander Blok (1880–1921) first seen 1899 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: My Spirit is Old" (1899); translation from Oliver Elton Verse from Pushkin and Others (London: E. Arnold, 1935) p. 175.
“Being famous is like a dream come true but it's really difficult because you lose your freedom. I don't want to lose being a kid.”
Miley Cyrus (born 1992) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reuters UK (November 27, 2007)
“I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan. Welcome to the land of fame excess - am I going to fit in? I jump into the cab, here I am for the first time, I look to the right and I see the Hollywood sign.”
Miley Cyrus (born 1992) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It seems that you live in someone else's dream In a hand-me-down wedding dress With the things that could have been are repressed But you said your vows and you closed the door On so many men who would have loved you more”
Ben Gibbard (born 1976) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is rest in this world nowhere except in Christ, the manifested love of God. Trust in excellence, and the better you become, the keener is the feeling of deficiency. Wrap up all in doubt, and there is a stern voice that will thunder at last out of the wilderness upon your dream.”
Frederick William Robertson (1816–1853) said by 1853 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What the world calls virtue is a name and a dream without Christ. The foundation of all human excellence must be laid deep in the blood of the Redeemer's cross, and in the power of His resurrection.”
Frederick William Robertson (1816–1853) said by 1853 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Death is the most blessed dream.”
Georg Büchner (1813–1837) said by 1837 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Your environment will become you. Surround yourself with people who have the same dream as you, who have accomplished what you want & more.”
Keshia Chante (born 1988) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Official Website (2009)
“To be in contact with scientists, to become in a small way a scientist myself if possible, perhaps to cast new light on physical phenomena, to be able to uncover what is real and definitive, was my life's great dream.”
Ernest Solvay (1838–1922) said by 1922 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For life is but a dream whose shapes return, Some frequently, some seldom, some by night And some by day.”
James Thomson (poet, born 1834) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A man with a dream of pleasure can go forth and conquer a crowd and three. With a new song's measure can trample a kingdom down.”
Fred Shero (1925–1990) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Message Shero wrote on the team's blackboard prior to Game 6 of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals
“Reach up to put a hand to some dream you kept awake. Now you take it like a red ripe apple and polish quietly up and down one's sleeve.”
J. P. Donleavy (1926–2017) said by 2017 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Looking at them [the metaphysical paintings of De Chirico, c. 1919] I had the sense of rediscovering something I had always known, just as when some event already seen opens up to us a whole realm of our own dream world, one that we have failed to see or comprehend, owing to a kind of censorship.”
Max Ernst (1891–1976) first seen 1929 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quote in 'Notes pour un biographie', Max Ernst, 1929, pp. 30-31; as cited in Max Ernst: a Retrospective, ed. Werner Spies & Sabine Rewald, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2005, p. 10
“But it is of the past, it seems to me. Perhaps.. .Man and the nightingales were in the most favourable situation for imagining: for them the forest was a perfect dream-conductor..”
Max Ernst (1891–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What is a dream? You ask too much of me: it is a woman cutting down a tree. What are forests for? For making the matches one gives children to play with. Is the fire in the forest, then? The fire is in the forest. What do plants feed on? On mystery. What day is it today? Shit..”
Max Ernst (1891–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is self-love, and its offspring, self-deception, which shut the gates of heaven, and lead men, as in a delicious dream, to hell.”
Christian Scriver (1629–1693) said by 1693 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I walk on a tightrope up to the edge of my dream. Guts tortured by voluptuousness guide me, fury of impulses. Before I organise myself, I must disorganize myself internally. To experience that first and fleeting primary state of freedom. Of the freedom to err, fall and get up again. (p55)”
Clarice Lispector (1920–1977) said by 1977 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Common elements of creativity are originality and imagination. Creativity is intertwined with the freedom to design, to invent and to dream. In engineering and science a creative idea is useful only if it meets three conditions: the constraint of the natural laws, the constraint of cost, and the constraint of technical feasibility.”
Martin Lewis Perl (1927–2014) said by 2014 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This is a white man's country, with a white man's civilization and any dream on the part of the Negro race to share social and political equality will be shattered in the end.”
Theodore G. Bilbo (1877–1947) said by 1947 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Alone in the darkness, standing with his back to the wall, facing overwhelming numbers. A glorious way to die, but Kaladin didn’t want glory. He’d given up on that foolish dream as a child.”
Brandon Sanderson (born 1975) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It was Rudolf Carnap’s dream for the last three decades of his life to show that science proceeds by a formal syntactic method; today no one to my knowledge holds out any hope for that project.”
Hilary Putnam (1926–2016) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hilary Putnam, in: James Conant, Urszula M. Zeglen (2012) Hilary Putnam: Pragmatism and Realism. p. 14
“I’ll be there. I’ll fill in. Tap me in, coach. It was a struggle bus. I had two cars repossessed. I was signed and dropped by three different labels. People only know me maybe because of Teenage Dream and the whirlwind and success of that and the accolades.”
Katy Perry (born 1984) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Katy Perry Has a Message for Young Artists in Her MTV VMAs Video Vanguard Speech ELLE (September 11, 2024).
“My best friend once gave me a framed 19th century book called What Katy Did Next. I’ve never read it, but the title has always stuck with me. That’s the point - it’s about continuing to move forward, and dream.”
Katy Perry (born 1984) first seen 2025 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Katy Perry admits she's been 'beloved, tested and tried' amid Orlando Bloom split Hello Magazine (September 24, 2025).
“So full of power, yet blithe and debonair, Rallying his friends with pleasant banter gay, Or half a-dream chaunting with jaunty air Great words of Goethe, catch of Béranger.”
John Campbell Shairp (1819–1885) first seen 1840 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Balliol Scholars 1840–1843: A Remembrance", stanza 26, line 1; p. 218. On Matthew Arnold.
“Whatever situation you are facing, don’t let it overwhelm you. Stay focused because there is something far more important than that situation – your dream and your goals in life.”
T. B. Joshua (1963–2021) said by 2021 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source