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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“Marx teaches us to blame society for our frailties, Freud teaches us to blame our parents, and astrology teaches us to blame the universe. The only place to look for blame is within: you didn't have the guts to bring up your full moon and live the life that was your potential.”
Joseph Campbell (1904–1987) said by 1987 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ah, life is a gate, a way, a path to Paradise anyway, why not live for fun and joy and love or some sort of girl by a fireside, why not go to your desire and LAUGH...”
Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) said by 1969 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You are now fixed at the mercy of no governor that comes to make his fortune great; you shall be governed by laws of your own making and live a free, and if you will, a sober and industrious life. I shall not usurp the right of any, or oppress his person. God has furnished me with a better resolution and has given me his grace to keep it.”
William Penn (1644–1718) first seen 1681 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to those already residing in Pennsylvania (1681)
“Retire from your job but never from meaningful projects. If you want to live a long life, you need eustress, that is, a deep sense of meaning and contribution to worthy projects and causes, particularly your intergenerational family.”
Stephen Covey (1932–2012) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The 8th Habit : From Effectiveness to Greatness (2004), p. 63
“Man—every man—is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; he must work for his rational self-interest, with the achievement of his own happiness as the highest moral purpose of his life.”
Ayn Rand (1905–1982) said by 1982 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Cold Mountain Son Forever not change I live alone Beyond life death”
“You will always have some excuse not to live your life.”
Chuck Palahniuk (born 1962) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I've known some bad people and some good people in my life, and it's the bad ones who live in fear, all the time. Cause they know their own hearts... And they think everyone else is just waiting to pull the same moves on them that they've got planned to pull on somebody else.”
Orson Scott Card (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Wasting our time? This is a waste of time, to live in peace and plenty with my wife and children? May I waste the rest of my life, then.”
Orson Scott Card (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If I were to live my life over again, I would be an American. I would steep myself in America, I would know no other land.”
Henry James (1843–1916) first seen 1906 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Said to Hamlin Garland in 1906 and quoted by Garland in Roadside Meetings (1930; reprinted by Kessinger Publishing, 2005, , ch. XXXVI: Henry James at Rye, p. 461
“No easy hope or lies Shall bring us to our goal, But iron sacrifice Of body, will, and soul. There is but one task for all— One life for each to give. What stands if Freedom fall? Who dies if England live?”
Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) said by 1936 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If he gets into drugs or something stupid like that, then I'll kick his ass, but otherwise he's got to live his life, even now." (talking about son and parenthood.)”
Jonathan Davis (born 1971) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For there is no such thing as perpetual Tranquility of mind, while we live here; because Life it selfe is but Motion, and can never be without Desire, nor without Feare, no more than without Sense.”
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) said by 1679 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I hated every minute of it. But I said to myself, 'Suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion'.”
Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) first seen 1978 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On training, as quoted by Pete Axthelm and Peter Bonventre in "Ali: Born Again!," Newsweek (25 September 1978)
“I consider myself a fortunate men, more so than most. I have often wondered why it was given to me to live the life of Kyril Fabrache.” “These reflections, at one time or another, have occurred to all of us,” said Ifness, “but unless we are agreed upon a religion of gradated reincarnation, the question is ingenuous.”
Jack Vance (1916–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you're reluctant to weep, you won't live a full and complete life.”
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Personal lessons from futurist Ray Bradbury on crying, escaping, laughing, by Mick Mortlock; Oregon Live (6 June 2012)
“I’m not afraid. When you live as long as I’ve lived, you lose that, too. I never liked lobster in my life, and mainly because I’d never tried it. On my eightieth birthday I tried it. I can’t say I’m greatly excited over lobster still, but I have no doubt as to its taste now, and I don’t fear it. I dare say death will be a lobster, too, and I can come to terms with it.”
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) said by 2012 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill”
J. K. Rowling (born 1965) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Tweet dated 19 December 2019 in support of Maya Forstater, cited in "Maya Forstater: Who is woman in employment tribunal over transgender comments?" The Independent (27 April 2021)
“We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life.”
Maya Angelou (1928–2014) said by 2014 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let us disperse from our aloofness and serve the weak who made us strong, and cleanse the country in which we live. Let us teach this miserable nation to smile and rejoice with heaven's bounty and glory of life and freedom.”
Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) first seen 1908 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Khalil in Spirits Rebellious (1908) "Khalil The Heretic" Part 3
“To be content with life — or to live merrily, rather — all that is required is that we bestow on all things only a fleeting, superficial glance; the more thoughtful we become the more earnest we grow.”
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–1799) said by 1799 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Neither human wisdom nor divine inspiration can confer upon man any greater blessing than this [live a life of happiness and harmony here on earth].”
Plato (429–349 BC) said by 349 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Neither family, nor privilege, nor wealth, nor anything but Love can light that beacon which a man must steer by when he sets out to live the better life.”
Plato (429–349 BC) said by 349 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 178c, M. Joyce, trans, Collected Dialogues of Plato (1961), p. 533
“I believe that anyone can be successful in life, regardless of natural talent or the environment within which we live. This is not based on measuring success by human competitiveness for wealth, possessions, influence, and fame, but adhering to God's standards of truth, justice, humility, service, compassion, forgiveness, and love.”
Jimmy Carter (1924–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Life is not an easy matter... You cannot live through it without falling into frustration and cynicism unless you have before you a great idea which raises you above personal misery, above weakness, above all kinds of perfidy and baseness.”
Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) said by 1940 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: レフ・トロツキー (ja)
“I still can't believe it. I don't want to believe it. It can't be so. He will live in my heart forever but it’s not enough. My life feels so empty. I don't think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I've ever known.”
Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Michael Jackson: Elizabeth Taylor Honors her good friend" by Dave Karger, Entertainment Weekly (26 June 2009)
“Show me what I have to do, Every hour my strength renew; Let me live a life of faith, Let me die Thy people's death.”
John Newton (1725–1807) said by 1807 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“All your life you live so close to truth, it becomes a permanent blur in the corner of your eye, and when something nudges it into outline it is like being ambushed by a grotesque.”
Tom Stoppard (1937–2025) said by 2025 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My journey began with me. I was the one who came into this world, and learned how to walk, and how to fall. I was the one who had to live with me every single day of my life. The world told me, 'There is something out there for you. Go look for it.' But somebody who was very kind and very generous said to me, 'For the answer, look within. Within you is where your journey begins and ends.'”
Prem Rawat (born 1957) first seen 1997 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Paris, France June 1997
“Since the Creator had made the facts of the after-life inaccessible to man, He must not have required that man understand death in order to live fruitfully.”
Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) said by 2004 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure you — it would make life easier. But discretion is, unfortunately, not for novelists.”
Philip Roth (1933–2018) first seen 1990 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Deception: A Novel (1990)
“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Sleep; and if life was bitter to thee, pardon, If sweet, give thanks; thou hast no more to live; And to give thanks”
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) said by 1909 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this: wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone.”
Hillary Clinton (born 1947) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks in Recognition of International Human Rights Day (December 6, 2011)
“Old man look at my life, Twenty four And there's so much more Live alone in a paradise That makes me think of two.”
Neil Young (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Underneath this stone doth lie As much beauty as could die; Which in life did harbor give To more virtue than doth live.”
Ben Jonson (1572–1637) said by 1637 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What is abnormal is that I am normal. That I survived the Holocaust and went on to love beautiful girls, to talk, to write, to have toast and tea and live my life — that is what is abnormal.”
Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) first seen 2000 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: After being asked "What does it take to be normal again, after having your humanity stripped away by the Nazis?" in an interview in O : The Oprah Magazine (November 2000)
“Change isn't easy, Micky. Changing the way you live means changing the way you think. Changing the way you think means changing what you believe about life. That's hard, sweetie. When we make our own misery, we sometimes cling to it even when we want so bad to change, because the misery is something we know. The misery is comfortable.”
Dean Koontz (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We can experience nothing but the present moment, live in no other second of time, and to understand this is as close as we can get to eternal life.”
P. D. James (1920–2014) said by 2014 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Scientists are supposed to live in ivory towers. Their darkrooms and their vibration-proof benches are supposed to isolate their activities from the disturbances of common life. What they tell us is supposed to be for the ages, not for the next election. But the reality may be otherwise.”
Simon LeVay (born 1943) first seen 1996 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Queer Science: The Use and Abuse of Research into Homosexuality, 1996, Cambridge: MIT Press. p. 9
“Life is never stagnation. It is constant movement, unrhythmic movement, as we as constant change. Things live by moving and gain strength as they go.”
Bruce Lee (1940–1973) said by 1973 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The need to speak, even if one has nothing to say, becomes more pressing when one has nothing to say, just as the will to live becomes more urgent when life has lost its meaning. (p. 30)”
Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to live the width of it as well.”
Diane Ackerman (born 1948) first seen 1991 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much (1991) by Anne Wilson Schaef
“I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations - to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Africa’s progress will depend on unleashing economic growth -- not just for the few at the top, but for the many, because an essential element of dignity is being able to live a decent life. That begins with a job. And that requires trade and investment.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.”
Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970) said by 1970 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Have you lost your mind? Tell me when you think we crossed the line No more drugs for me, pussy and religion is all I need Grab my hand and baby, we'll live a hell of a lie I think I fell in love with a pornstar And got married in the bathroom Honeymoon on the dance floor And got divorced by the end of the night That's one hell of a life.”
Kanye West (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A government that is clean, efficient and trustworthy will speed up development and enable Malaysians to live a better life.”
Mahathir Mohamad (born 1925) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Age shouldn't affect you. It's just like the size of your shoes - they don't determine how you live your life! You're either marvellous or you're boring, regardless of your age.”
Morrissey (born 1959) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: from "The cradle snatchers", article by Frank Worrall, Melody Maker (3 September 1983)
“Beliefs about how you live your life, matters of private decision, views best kept for private enjoyment, prejudice or entertainment, can't be imposed by the operation of criminal law. Attempts to enforce such views can only make the government the subject of ridicule.”
John Mortimer (1923–2009) said by 2009 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source