Famous quotes

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Friendship

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“When I reached the [Yosemite] valley, all the rocks seemed talkative, and more lovable than ever. They are dear friends, and have warm blood gushing through their granite flesh; and I love them with a love intensified by long and close companionship. … I … bathed in the bright river, sauntered over the meadows, conversed with the domes, and played with the pines.”
John Muir (1838–1914) first seen 1872 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: letter to Mrs. Ezra S. Carr (December 1872); published as "A Geologist's Winter Walk", Overland Monthly, volume 10, number 4 (April 1873) pages 355-358 (at page 355); modified slightly and reprinted in Steep Trails (191…
“The Soviet Union is dead and gone and replaced by the Russian Federation, which is a country we can be friends with now, thank God — and we want the Russians to prosper, and should help the Russians prosper in every way we can within reason.”
Tom Clancy (1947–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Generally, from that time on, division appeared among the Mongols. Genghis Khan had advised his sons to maintain agreement and unity, saying, “So long as you agree with each other, fortune and triumph will be your friends, and no opponent can achieve victory.” It was through this quality that it was possible for him and his offspring to conquer most of the countries of the world.”
Genghis Khan (1162–1227) said by 1227 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have written and spoken and joked with friends the meanest, cruelest, most hateful things that could ever been said by me, have been said about the Clintons. I loathe them. I disagree with Hillary Clinton on just about everything there is to disagree with a person about. If it comes down to Trump and Hillary, I will put a Hillary Clinton sticker on my fucking car.”
Penn Jillette (born 1955) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When we're trying to solve difficult national issues its sometimes necessary to talk to adversaries as well as friends. Historians have a word for this: diplomacy.”
Madeleine Albright (1937–2022) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech at Harvard forum (April 11, 2007)
“We enter the Reichstag to arm ourselves with democracy’s weapons. If democracy is foolish enough to give us free railway passes and salaries, that is its problem... We are coming neither as friends or neutrals. We come as enemies! As the wolf attacks the sheep, so come we.”
Joseph Goebbels (1897–1945) first seen 1928 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Why Do We Want to Join the Reichstag? Der Angriff, 30 April 1928
“My dear friends, I bid you farewell as your President. I remain with you as your fellow citizen!”
Václav Havel (1936–2011) said by 2011 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“According to reports, Britney Spears has told family and close friends that she and her new husband Kevin Federline are expecting their first child. So far, no word on whether it will be a pimp or a ho.”
Tina Fey (born 1970) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Day after day They send my friends away To mansions cold and grey. To the far side of town Where the thin men stalk the streets While the sane stay underground.Day after day, They tell me I can go. They tell me I can blow To the far side of town Where it's pointless to be high, 'Cause it's such a long way down.”
David Bowie (1947–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Under a tyranny, most friends are a liability. One quarter of them turn "reasonable" and become your enemies, one quarter are afraid to speak, and one quarter are killed and you die with them. But the blessed final quarter keep you alive.”
Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951) said by 1951 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Hours then of blasphemy and fury and debate, all in the theological terms that seem shocking to the literate citizens today, who believe in God but just don't care to mention him or any of the other lowly friends they knew before they went to Yale. ~ Ch. 6”
Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951) said by 1951 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Wars have never made peace or preserved it or fostered its ideals. To have peace you must make peace with your enemy. To make peace only with your friends is to avoid the issue, and to permit a great principle to become absurd. Far from making peace, wars invariably serve as classrooms and laboratories where men and techniques and states of mind are prepared for the next war.”
Wendell Berry (1934–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You remember me. I’m Gracie Allen. I’m the candidate who forgot to take off her hat before she threw it in the ring. Furthermore, I’m the only candidate who got the idea of running myself. All the others had to have somebody else think it up for them, or anyway they say the only reason they’re running is because their many friends kept after them and after them until they finally gave in.”
Gracie Allen (1895–1964) said by 1964 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If I worked at a store and a duck came in I would like just give him some bread-- "sure man no problem-- tell your friends"--- but I would not give him Pepperidge Farm bread....You know that stuff right? you open it and it still ain't open. That is why I do not buy it. Cause I do not need another step, between me and toast.”
Mitch Hedberg (1968–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I'm sorry, those pictures from the Abu Ghraib. At first, they, like infuriated me, I was sad. Then like, a couple days later, after they cut the guy's head off, they didn't seem like much. And now, I like to trade them with my friends.”
Dennis Miller (born 1953) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 8 June 2004
“You know, folks, the French have always been reluctant to surrender to the wishes of their friends, and almost anticipatory in their urge to surrender to the wishes of their enemies.”
Dennis Miller (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends that are NASCAR team owners.”
Mitt Romney (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It's also a symbol of a serious conflict of interest. An independent inspector general looked at this investment and concluded that the administration had steered money to friends and family – to campaign contributors. This building, this half a billion dollar taxpayer investment, represents a serious conflict of interest on the part of the president and his team.”
Mitt Romney (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Never, ever go near power. Don't become friends with anyone who has real power. It's dangerous.”
Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999) said by 1999 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "After Stanley Kubrick" (18 August 2010), an interview of his wife Christiane Kubrick in The Guardian
“Contrary to popular opinion, mathematics is about simplifying life, not complicating it. A child learns a bag of candies can be shared fairly by counting them out: That is numeracy. She abstracts that notion to dividing a candy bar into equal pieces: arithmetic. Then, she learns how to calculate how much cocoa and sugar she will need to make enough chocolate for fifteen friends: algebra.”
Benoît Mandelbrot (1924–2010) said by 2010 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This weekend, as we celebrate , families across America will gather in backyards and front porches, fire up the barbeque, kick back with friends, and spend time with people they care about. That is as it should be. But I also hope that as you do so, you’ll take some time to reflect on what Memorial Day is all about; on why we set this day aside as a time of national remembrance.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To the families of those we've lost; to all who called them friends; to the students of this university, the public servants gathered tonight, and the people of Tucson and Arizona: I have come here tonight as an American who, like all Americans, kneels to pray with you today, and will stand by you tomorrow.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And finally, we recognize that our best partners in protecting vulnerable people from succumbing to violent extremist ideologies are the communities themselves -- families, friends, neighbors, clerics, faith leaders who love and care for these young people. Remember that violent extremism is not unique to any one faith, so no one should be profiled or targeted simply because of their faith.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I can't think that it would be terrible of me to say — and it is occasionally true — that I need physics more than friends.”
Robert Oppenheimer (1904–1967) first seen 1929 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to his brother Frank Oppenheimer (14 October 1929), published in Robert Oppenheimer : Letters and Recollections (1995) edited by Alice Kimball Smith, p. 135
“The writings of Einstein, Minkowski, Hilbert, Lorentz, Weyl, Robb, and others, have provided the groundwork; in the give and take of debate with friends and correspondents, the extensive ramifications have gradually appeared.”
Arthur Eddington (1882–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Any rumor you ever heard about me was true and legendary I done got Lewinskys and paid secretaries For all my niggas with babies by bitches That use they kids as meal tickets Not knowin' the disconnect from the father The next generation will be the real victims Had my life threatened by best friends with selfish intents What I'm supposed to do? Ride around with a bulletproof car and some tints?”
Kanye West (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Some of my best friends are Jewish and I don't trust any of them”
Kanye West (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I woke up this mornin', Lucille was not in sight, I asked my friends about her but all their lips was tight, Lucille, please come back where you belong, I've been good to you baby, please don't lead me along.”
Little Richard (1932–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One of my friends once saw another guy's (criminal) record and said, 'Look, this guy is a born troublemaker, just a loser.' I had to tell him, 'No, that's my record — and it doesn't include my juvenile history.'”
Mike Tyson (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“None of my friends have any respect for me. … No, most of these people thought of me like... some money... .”
Mike Tyson (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Friends, meet together and know one another in that which is eternal, which was before the world was.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1657 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle 149 (1657)
“For the right joining in marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not the priests’ or magistrates’; for it is God’s ordinance and not man’s; and therefore Friends cannot consent that they should join them together: for we marry none; it is the Lord’s work, and we are but witnesses.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1669 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle 264 (1669)
“The white men aren't friends to the Indians... At first they only asked for land sufficient for a wigwam; now, nothing will satisfy them but the whole of our hunting grounds from the rising to the setting sun.”
Tecumseh (1768–1813) said by 1813 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My friends, watch out for the little fellow with an idea." - Tommy Douglas 1961.”
Tommy Douglas (1904–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you move off a point of power, pay all your obligations on the nail, empower all your friends completely and move off with your pockets full of artillery, potential blackmail on every erstwhile rival, unlimited funds in your private account and the addresses of experienced assassins and go live in Bulgravia and bribe the police.”
L. Ron Hubbard (1911–1986) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Responsibilities of Leaders" (February 12, 1967) (Bulgravia is an acronym of BULgaria, GReece, Albania and YugoslaVIA].
“You cannot be friends upon any other terms than upon the terms of equality.”
Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) first seen 1913 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Address on Latin American Policy before the Southern Commercial Congress Mobile, Alabama (27 October 1913)
“The pamphlet teaches the skills that skills that Benzer’s former labmates would now need to learn, including propaganda, “that branch of lying which consists in very nearly deceiving your friends without quite deceiving your enemies.”
Jonathan Weiner (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This book is dedicated to all of my friends who helped me get to where I am today - you know who you are.... and when I find you I am going to kill you.”
Lewis Black (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I think because I felt so sad I had to bring out my feelings, and try to create music that would make me and all my friends feel better.”
Brian Wilson (1942–2025) first seen 2000 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Caroline Now! interview (20 April 2000)
“More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together. And that, my friends, is why we have the United Nations.”
Kofi Annan (1938–2018) first seen 1999 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Message for the new millennium (31 December 1999)
“Anyone who, for 25 years, has built a career on such tenuous foundations as a high-pitched giggle, a raspberry and a sprinkling of top 'Cs' needs all the friends he can get.”
Harry Secombe (1921–2001) said by 2001 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When we are in partnership and have stopped clutching each other's throats, when we have stopped enslaving each other, we will stand together, hands clasped, and be friends. We will be comrades, we will be brothers, and we will begin the march to the grandest civilization the human race has ever known.”
Eugene V. Debs (1855–1926) said by 1926 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“At last, my friends, I am come amongst you. And I am come…unmuzzled.”
William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898) first seen 1865 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the electors of South Lancashire. (18 July 1865)
“I venture on assuring you that I regard the design formed by you and your friends with sincere interest, and in particular wish well to all the efforts you may make on behalf of individual freedom and independence as opposed to what is termed Collectivism.”
William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898) first seen 1897 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to F. W. Hirst on being unable to write a preface to Essays in Liberalism (2 January 1897), quoted F. W. Hirst, In the Golden Days (1947), p. 158
“Reaching the summit of a mountain gives great satisfaction, but nothing for me has been more rewarding in life than the result of our climb on Everest, when we have devoted ourselves to the welfare of our Sherpa friends.”
Edmund Hillary (1919–2008) first seen 1994 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Great Climbs: A Celebration of World Mountaineering (1994) by Sir Chris Bonington
“Well morning came, and it dressed the sky in a lovely yellow gown. Shopping malls are opening in that narrow hallway of downtown, filled with people who are shopping for their lovers and their friends, singing "I won't ever be lonely again”
Conor Oberst (born 1980) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I don’t feel ill about anyone. I don’t even feel nice about anyone. I just don’t think about them. I am selfish that way. I think about myself, my films and my friends.”
Shahrukh Khan (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Human beings exist that have integrity, that know how to keep their mouth shut, that know the bigger picture, that don’t sell out their friends.”
Sandra Bullock (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Here’s an offer to my Russian ‘friends’ who want to arrest and try me for calling out the Putin regime as being war criminals: I will submit to jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if you do.”
Lindsey Graham (1955–2026) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Politico (May 29, 2023)