Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,161,747 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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“They just need weapons to free their country of a terrible invasion. They're sitting on a trillion dollars' worth of minerals that could be good to our economy. So I want to keep helping our friends in Ukraine. We can win this. They need our help.”
Lindsey Graham (1955–2026) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement, X (September 6, 2024)
“Fear not your enemies, for they can only kill you. Fear not your friends, for they can only betray you. Fear only the indifferent, who permit the killers and betrayers to walk safely on the earth.”
Edward Yashinsky first seen 1985 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Lookstein, Haskel: "Were We Our Brother's Keepers?" New York: 1985.
“I stress that I am not attacking Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, and the environmental movement in general. They have done some good work overall. I am merely pointing out that they can, and are, used to promote the New World Order, mostly (though certainly not in every case), without their knowledge.”
David Icke (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Some of my friends have urged me to tell people the basic story, but "for God’s sake don’t mention the reptiles.”
David Icke (born 1952) first seen 1999 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Biggest Secret (1999) ch. 1
“The laurelled exiles, kneeling to kiss these sands. Number there freedom's friends. One who Within the element of endless summer, Like leaf in amber, petrified by light, Studied the root of action. One in a garret Read books as though he broke up flints.”
Stephen Spender (1909–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My friends, who are both women, tell me their stories, which cannot be believed and which are true. They are horror stories and they have not happened to me, they have not yet happened to me, they have happened to me but we are detached, we watch our unbelief with horror.”
Margaret Atwood (born 1939) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The fact is there are no stories I can tell my friends that will make them feel better. History cannot be erased, although we can soothe ourselves by speculating about it.”
Margaret Atwood (born 1939) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My friends call me 'Dolittle One' [a reference to her physical stature and affinity for animals].”
Gloria Estefan (born 1957) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Book Standard (4 June 2005)
“God bless the devout Christians of this country. They are Israel's best friends on the earth.”
Ben Stein (born 1944) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Long Memorial Day" American Spectator (1 June 2010)
“Some paintings become famous because, being durable, they are viewed by successive generations, in each of which are likely to be found a few appreciative eyes. I know a painting so evanescent that it is seldom viewed at all, except by some wandering deer. It is a river who wields the brush, and it is the same river who, before I can bring my friends to view his work, erases it forever.”
Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) said by 1948 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When my friends told me you had someone new I didn't believe a single word was true. I showed them all I had a faith in you I just kept on sayingOh, no, not my baby Oh, no, not my sweet baby You're not like those other guys Who lead you on and tell you lies.”
Carole King (born 1942) first seen 1964 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Oh No Not My Baby (1964), Co-written with Gerry Goffin
“I have made more friends for American culture than the State Department. Certainly I have made fewer enemies, but that isn't very difficult.”
Arthur Miller (1915–2005) first seen 1954 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: After being refused a passport for his supposed disloyalty. The New York Herald Tribune (March 31, 1954)
“Don't give up 'cos you have friends Don't give up You're not beaten yet. Don't give up I know you can make it good...”
Peter Gabriel (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It’s easy to lose your reputation, it’s easy to lose your friends, to lose their confidence, than to regain it.”
Garry Kasparov (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“With this Bill my right hon. Friends continue their pursuit of one of the hoariest futilities in the recorded history of politics, the attempt to use coercion in some form or other to prevent the laws of supply and demand from expressing themselves in terms of prices.”
Enoch Powell (1912–1998) first seen 1973 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons against the Counter-Inflation Bill, which introduced stage 2 of the government's prices and incomes policy (29 January 1973)
“Oh, sweet it is, where grass is deep And swifts are overhead, To lie and watch the clouds, and weep For friends already dead.”
Enoch Powell (1912–1998) said by 1998 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is a red and angry world... Red things happen there. The world eats your wife... Eats your friends... Eats all the things... that make you human... And you become a monster. And the world... just keeps on eating.”
Alan Moore (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Scripture tells us that 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' Captain Humayun Khan of the United States Army showed in his final moments that he was filled and motivated by this love. His name will live forever in American memory, as an example of true American greatness.”
John McCain (1936–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In John Kerry's world, it's a defense to say your oldest friends aren't dishonest, they're merely whores.”
Jonah Goldberg (born 1969) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: October 2004)
“At the end of the day, happiness is derived from love — love for others and others’ love for you. When I say “love” I do not mean simply romantic love, though that is obviously one of the greatest wellsprings of true happiness. I mean the love one feels from friends, and the love for places and things that brings people together for shared purpose.”
Jonah Goldberg (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you want to know who your friends are, get yourself a jail sentence.”
Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[Death is] the last big move of your life. The hearse is like the van, the pallbearers are your close friends, the only ones you could really ask to help you with a big move like that. And the casket is that great, perfect box you've been looking for your whole life. The only problem is once you find it, you're in it.”
Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I believe in detailed notes and jokes, and also winging it onstage. But, not for your first open mic. For your first open mic, my advice to you would be to make sure you have what you're gonna do memorized, to the point that one of your friends can gently slap you across the face, and you'll still be able to get it out of your mouth.”
Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Stories about your children are not good stories. They're not interesting, amusing, or relatable. [...] That took me a long time to learn. And a lot-- I have a lot of friends with kids that don't know it: what happened with your kid this morning at breakfast is not funny.”
Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Emotional Ketchup Burst: The bottling up of opinions and emotions inside onself so that they explosively burst forth all at once, shocking and confusing employers and friends—most of whom thought things were fine.”
Douglas Coupland (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Her friends have become who they've become by default. Their dreams are forgotten, or were never formulated to begin with.”
Douglas Coupland (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human.”
Anthony Robbins (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Turks very nearly brought about our defeat in the war. It was a near thing. You cannot trust them and they are a decadent race. The Greeks, on the other hand, are our friends, and they are a rising people... We must secure Constantinople and the Dardanelles. You cannot do that effectively without crushing the Turkish power.”
David Lloyd George (1863–1945) first seen 1908 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks to George Riddell (26 June 1920), quoted in J. M. McEwen (ed.), The Riddell Diaries 1908-1923 (1986), pp. 315-316
“I have never changed my stance nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence. Thank you to all my fans, supporters and friends who stood by me through this ordeal. Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rules of law.”
Bill Cosby (born 1937) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: In 2021 on his acquittal concerning sexual assault allegations that involved him.
“...I said yesterday on Fox & Friends, I think the president is a racist, I think he has race issues. Don't know if he hates white people, but there's something going on with the president. Well, I stand by that. And I deem him a racist based on really his own standard of racism, the standard of the left.”
Glenn Beck (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To all my friends, colleagues and family: I send you love. Please support me in my passage to a new life. I have no other way to thank you than this. You have all played a significant part in my development of loving. As a result, my life has been rich and full, so I leave feeling very grateful.”
Virginia Satir (1916–1988) said by 1988 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Brief biography at Avanta.net (1999)
“Being a nerd, which is to say going too far and caring too much about a subject, is the best way to make friends I know.”
Sarah Vowell (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have always found him to be a proud, honourable man, loyal, true, persevering, principled, caring and committed but tough and a person who lost friends easily. On behalf of the Government but in particular on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I thank him for his distinguished years of service to his constituents and his country.”
Bertie Ahern (born 1951) first seen 1997 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking about Ray Burke (who was subsequently jailed for six months for tax evasion) after Burke's resignation. Resignation of Member: Statements. Dáil Éireann - Volume 481, 1997-10-07
“The Louvre is like the morgue; one goes there to identify one’s friends.”
Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) first seen 1922 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Le Secret Professionnel" in Le Rappel à l’Ordre (1922; 1926)
“One of the characteristics of the dream is that nothing surprises us in it. With no regret, we agree to live in it with strangers, completely cut off from our habits and friends.”
Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) first seen 1947 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Du Rêve" in La Difficulté d’Etre [The Difficulty of Being] (1947)
“Understand that some of your enemies are amongst your best friends.”
Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ironically, Henry James' biography comforts me & I long to make known to him his posthumous reputation — he wrote, in pain, gave all his life (which is more than I could think of doing — I have Ted, will have children — but few friends) & the critics insulted & mocked him, readers didn't read him.”
Sylvia Plath (1932–1963) first seen 1958 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (April 22, 1958)
“After he routed Pharnaces Ponticus at the first assault, he wrote thus to his friends: "I came, I saw, I conquered.”
Plutarch (40–120) said by 120 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Agesilaus was very fond of his children; and it is reported that once toying with them he got astride upon a reed as upon a horse, and rode about the room; and being seen by one of his friends, he desired him not to speak of it till he had children of his own.”
Plutarch (40–120) said by 120 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I cannot forgive my friends for dying; I do not find these vanishing acts of theirs at all amusing.”
Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) said by 1946 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“How often a man has cause to return thanks for the enthusiasms of his friends! They are the little fountains that run down from the hills to refresh the mental desert of the despondent.”
Henry van Dyke (1852–1933) said by 1933 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you're big you don't need a reason to sweat. You don't, right? My friends cannot grab a hold of this concept. They come up to me all the time like "Jeez! What have you been doing? What are ya jumpin rope in the attic?!" "Well, I peeled an orange.. about an hour ago. Why, what's up?”
Kevin James (born 1965) first seen 2001 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sweat the Small Stuff (2001)
“It is in the thirties that we want friends. In the forties we know they won't save us any more than love did.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) said by 1940 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The heart may think it knows better: the senses know that absence blots people out. We have really no absent friends.”
Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) said by 1973 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In the end all books are written for your friends. The problem after writing One Hundred Years of Solitude was that now I no longer know whom of the millions of readers I am writing for; this upsets and inhibits me. It's like a million eyes are looking at you and you don't really know what they think.”
Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014) said by 2014 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Dear young friends, the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity.”
Pope Benedict XVI (1927–2022) said by 2022 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As free constitutions are the strongest supports of governments, social order is the best safeguard of freedom. Liberty has no enemies so pernicious as those misguided friends whose ardour in her cause leads them to outrage the moral sense of mankind, and to arm against her the interests and feelings which are her natural allies. Even the prejudices of nations should be respected.”
Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–1859) first seen 1822 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 'Essay on the Life and Character of King William III' (1822), written for the Greaves Historical Prize at Cambridge, quoted in The Times Literary Supplement (1 May 1969), p. 469
“No sound of joy or sorrow Was heard from either bank; But friends and foes in dumb surprise, With parted lips and straining eyes, Stood gazing where he sank; And when above the surges, They saw his crest appear, All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, And even the ranks of Tuscany Could scarce forbear to cheer.”
Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–1859) said by 1859 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Want to talk about it?” “No.” “I think you’re supposed to. All my friends who talk native psychobabble say you should rationalize events back to their origin point so you can acknowledge their structural integration within your life flow.” “Alison, that’s…that…such a load of crap.” “I know that.”
Peter F. Hamilton (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What disturbed the advocates of the dances most profoundly was the discovery of a fathomless paradox at the bottom of their friends' thinking: in following the crowd, against their own will and judgment, they were following themselves, i.e., nobody.”
Mary McCarthy (1912–1989) said by 1989 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source