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. 1,159,190 quotes Who coined it · How we decide

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“You think it horrible that lust and rage Should dance attention upon my old age; They were not such a plague when I was young; What else have I to spur me into song?”
William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) said by 1939 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Oh you who read some song I have sung What know you of the soul from whence it sprung”
Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) first seen 1883 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: From The Poets Song in Poems of Passion 1883 edition
“What song the Syrens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, though puzzling questions, are not beyond all conjecture.”
Thomas Browne (1605–1682) said by 1682 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Is no one inspired by our present picture of the universe? This value of science remains unsung by singers, you are reduced to hearing not a song or poem, but an evening lecture about it. This is not yet a scientific age.”
Richard Feynman (1918–1988) said by 1988 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Babooshka's just one of those song's you just can't get out of your head, can you? You know, how she just takes a word, and you start seeing images and pictures. To a word that maybe you haven't used … it's "Babooshka" and she's turned that into an emotion, that's just how she's able to use a combination of a word and a combination of a melody and the rhythm of that, and it creates a new language.”
Tori Amos (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I just remember pulling aside, I was driving, and I heard it on the radio, in the states — and she didn't really get played a lot in the states, until that song — that really got played — a lot. I remember, I had to pull over, and listen to it, because I'd never heard anything like it.”
Tori Amos (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Young people have to stop flattering themselves that they're Nostradamus and would have foreseen, had they been around then, everything that's unacceptable now. And for further context Mel Brooks wrote one of the most successful musicals of all time around the song 'Springtime for Hitler.'”
Bill Maher (born 1956) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Even the most insensitive hit song enthusiast cannot always escape the feeling that the child with a sweet tooth comes to know in the candy store.”
Theodor Adorno (1903–1969) said by 1969 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The film concludes with ... the most nauseatingly luscious, the most penetratingly vulgar mammy song that it has ever been my lot to hear. My flesh crept as the loud speaker poured out those sodden words, the greasy, sagging melody. I felt ashamed of myself for listening to such things, for even being a member of the species to which such things are addressed.”
Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The best models of English writing are Shakespeare and the Old Testament, especially the book of Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. ... In writing English the most important quality that you can acquire is style. It makes all the difference to anyone who reads what you write, whether you use the best phrases in the best way.”
Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) first seen 1947 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: First and only letter to his son Aleister Ataturk (May 1947), as quoted in Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley (2000) by Lawrence Sutin, p. 416
“Uh oh. I don't think that I can tell who it [the person "Mr. James Dean" references] is, but it was definitely an experience that I went through that was interesting and I learned a lot from that time in my life. I think the song is very funny when I think about it.”
Hilary Duff (born 1987) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Goodman, Abbey. "Hilary Duff: The Nicest Brat". MTV News. November 12 2004. Retrieved October 27 2006.
“I love the song ["Weird"] too. It is really weird when you listen to the beat and the words. It's about someone that she's still obsessed with. And everything he does is like he says this, but he does this. And he does this but he says this. It's all twisted around and backwards. She's not really sure who he is or what he does, but she likes it.”
Hilary Duff (born 1987) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hilary Duff comes clean". News Times. January 21 2005. Retrieved October 25 2006.
“With wonderful deathless ditties We build up the world's great cities, And out of a fabulous story We fashion an empire's glory: One man with a dream, at pleasure, Shall go forth and conquer a crown; And three with a new song's measure Can trample a kingdom down.”
Arthur O'Shaughnessy (1844–1881) first seen 1847 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: At least as early as 1921 there seem to have arisen variants with "trample an empire down", but the 1847 original has "trample a kingdom down.
“Great hail! we cry to the comers From the dazzling unknown shore; Bring us hither your sun and your summers; And renew our world as of yore; You shall teach us your song's new numbers, And things that we dreamed not before: Yea, in spite of a dreamer who slumbers, And a singer who sings no more.”
Arthur O'Shaughnessy (1844–1881) said by 1881 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Upon leaving [the derivatives business], our feelings about the business mirrored a line in a country song: "I liked you better before I got to know you so well.”
Warren Buffett (born 1930) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 2008 Chairman's Letter
“At night in his own bed, Alvin listened to the distant greensong, still warm and beautiful, still bright and hopeful even though the forest was getting so sparse, even though the future was so dim. Cause there's no fear of future in the song of life, just the ever-joyful present moment. That's all I want right now, thought Alvin. The present moment, which is good enough.”
Orson Scott Card (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you mention to a woman that the song is disgusting and misogynistic, they all give you the same answer: "He ain't talking 'bout me!" Smack her with a dick, smack her with a dick … He said your name! "No, he didn't!" Smack her with a dick, smack her with a dick …”
Chris Rock (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Is life worth living? Yes, so long As Spring revives the year, And hails us with the cuckoo's song, To show that she is here;”
Alfred Austin (1835–1913) said by 1913 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“They're playin our song Gene!”
Kurt Vonnegut (1922–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Waiting the word of the Master, Watching the Hidden Light; Listening to his orders In the very midst of the fight;Seeing His slightest signal Across the heads of the throng; Hearing His faintest whisper Above earth's loudest song.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My whole teaching consists of two words, meditation and love. Meditate so that you can feel immense silence, and love so that your life can become a song, a dance, a celebration. You will have to move between the two, and if you can move easily, if you can move without any effort, you have learned the greatest thing in life.”
Rajneesh (1931–1990) said by 1990 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The song of canaries Never varies, And when they're moulting They're pretty revolting.”
Ogden Nash (1902–1971) said by 1971 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My nails are my rhythm section, when I'm writing a song all alone. Some day, I may cut an album, just me and my nails.”
Dolly Parton (1946–2026) first seen 1980 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Dolly Parton: Gee, She’s So Nice" (7 December 1980), by Roger Ebert, Roger Ebert
“Even when I’m writing a modern song, I’ll find myself pulling stuff from those days before I ever left home, the days of Mama and Daddy and my grandmas and grandpas, and church days. All I ever have to do is close my eyes and just kind of go inside.”
Dolly Parton (1946–2026) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview with Rolling Stone (30 October 2003), as quoted in "Dolly Parton: At 57, the Country Legend Still Brims With Vitality" (28 August 2015), by Jancee Dunn, Rolling Stone
“I wrote a song years ago called 'In the Good Old Days When Times Were Bad,' and it said, 'No amount of money could buy from me the memories that I have of then. But no amount of money could pay me to go back and live through it again.”
Dolly Parton (1946–2026) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Dolly Parton: Making the most of everything CBS News (September 1, 2019).
“I’ll go into a closet and wonder, ‘Now, what in the hell did I come in here for?', There’s nothing that makes me happier than writing a song.”
Dolly Parton (1946–2026) first seen 2025 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Dolly Parton Doesn't Believe She's Famous: 'I Think I'm a Star to Everybody but Me' People (January 8, 2025).
“Following the death of her husband in March 2025, Dolly released the song "If You Hadn't Been There," expressing gratitude for his unwavering support throughout their nearly 60-year marriage”
Dolly Parton (1946–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I've seen the demonstrations on the Internet about how you can find another person using a Zune and give them a song they can play three times. It takes forever. By the time you've gone through all that, the girl's got up and left! You're much better off to take one of your earbuds out and put it in her ear. Then you're connected with about two feet of headphone cable.”
Steve Jobs (1955–2011) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: When asked whether he was concerned over Microsoft Zune's wireless capability, as a product competing with Apple's iPod, as quoted in Newsweek (14 October 2006)
“John asked what he could do to help my campaign for governor. "Write a campaign song," I replied. "Okay," said John, "what's the theme?" "Our campaign slogan is Come together, join the party.'" "Great title," said John. He grabbed his guitar and started improvising.”
Timothy Leary (1920–1996) said by 1996 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I may be preaching to the choir, but the choir needs a good song.”
Michael Moore (born 1954) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: USA Today (20 June 2004)
“'Cause we are sick and tired of hearing your song, Telling us how you are gonna change right from wrong, 'Cause if you really want to hear our views, You haven't done nothin'.”
Stevie Wonder (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For you, there might be a brighter star, But through my eyes the light of you burns all I see. For you, there might be another song, But all my heart can hear is your melody.”
Stevie Wonder (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fuck you all, this is the last song of the evening.”
Kurt Cobain (1967–1994) first seen 1993 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 1993-11-18 at Sony Music Studios, New York City, New York (MTV Unplugged).
“This song is dedicated to Frank Zappa, and River Phoenix, Fred Gwynne who played Herman Munster, Dixie Lee Ray, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neil, and you, dumb ass, who just threw water on me.”
Kurt Cobain (1967–1994) first seen 1994 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 1994-01-07 at Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington
“Soul is when you take a song and make it a part of you — a part that's so true, so real, people think it must have happened to you. … It's like electricity — we don't really know what it is, do we? But it's a force that can light a room. Soul is like electricity, like a spirit, a drive, a power.”
Ray Charles (1930–2004) first seen 1966 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in LIFE magazine (July 1966), also in Ray Charles : Man and Music (1998) by Michael Lydon, p. 264
“Every human being longs to be happy, to satisfy the wants of the body with food, with roof and raiment, and to feed the hunger of the mind, according to his capacity, with love, wisdom, philosophy, art and song.”
Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–1899) first seen 1896 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: How To Reform Mankind (1896), chapter I. Republished by Kessinger Publishing, Llc, 2005.
“[N]ature gets credit which should in truth be reserved for ourselves: the rose for its scent: the nightingale for his song: and the sun for his radiance. The poets are entirely mistaken. They should address their lyrics to themselves, and should turn them into odes of self-congratulation on the excellency of the human mind.”
Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) said by 1947 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I will neither yield to the song of the siren nor the voice of the hyena, the tears of the crocodile nor the howling of the wolf.”
George Chapman (1559–1634) said by 1634 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I play with syllables and sport in song.”
William Cowper (1731–1800) said by 1800 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Hey Jude, don't make it bad Take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let her into your heart Then you can start to make it better.”
Paul McCartney (born 1942) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hey Jude" (1968)
“History repeats itself, but the special call of an art which has passed away is never reproduced. It is as utterly gone out of the world as the song of a destroyed wild bird.”
Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) said by 1924 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For all that has been said of the love that certain natures (on shore) have professed to feel for it, for all the celebrations it had been the object of in prose and song, the sea has never been friendly to man. At most it has been the accomplice of human restlessness, and playing the part of dangerous abettor of world-wide ambitions.”
Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) said by 1924 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I touch God in my song as the hill touched the far-away sea with its waterfall.”
Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) said by 1941 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The compelled mother loves her child as the caged bird sings. The song does not justify the cage nor the love the enforcement.”
Germaine Greer (born 1939) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Article "Abortion", The Sunday Times (21 May 1972)
“The longer one is alone, the easier it is to hear the song of the earth.”
Robert Anton Wilson (1932–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The more congenial page of some tenth-rate poeticule worn out with failure after failure and now squat in his hole like the tailless fox, he is curled up to snarl and whimper beneath the inaccessible vine of song.”
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) said by 1909 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Who loves not woman, wine, and song / Remains a fool his whole life long.”
Martin Luther (1483–1546) said by 1546 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted by Anonymous, "On Luther's Love for and Knowledge of Music" in The Musical World. Vol VII, No. 83 (Oct 13, 1837).
“Mother, though my song's measure is like your surf-beat's ancient rhythm I never learned it of you. Before there was any water there were tides of fire, both our tones flow from the older fountain.”
Robinson Jeffers (1887–1962) first seen 1924 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Continent's End" in Tamar and Other Poems (1924)
“The sun and its light, the ocean and the wave, the singer and his song — not one. Not two.”
Anthony de Mello (1931–1987) said by 1987 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The master was never impressed by diplomas or degrees. He scrutinized the person, not the certificate. He was once heard to say, 'When you have ears to hear a bird in song, you don't need to look at its credentials.”
Anthony de Mello (1931–1987) said by 1987 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source