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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“I don't deny-a what I'm seeing You vilified all our kind You criticize people's weakness When all the time it's just your lies”
Dhani Harrison (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Cheerfully and gratefully I lay myself and all I am or own at the feet of Him who redeemed me with His precious blood, engaging to follow Him, bearing the cross He lays upon me." This is the least I can do, and I do it while my heart lies broken and bleeding at His feet.”
Elizabeth Prentiss (1818–1878) first seen 1845 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: pp. 311–312. (July 12, 1845)
“I want to defend society and its inhabitants from all ideologies, science included. All ideologies must be seen in perspective. One must not take them too seriously. One must read them like fairy-tales which have lots of interesting things to say but which also contain wicked lies, or like ethical prescriptions which may be useful rules of thumb but which are deadly when followed to the letter.”
Paul Karl Feyerabend (1924–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The beauty of physics lies in the extent to which seemingly complex and unrelated phenomena can be explained and correlated through a high level of abstraction by a set of laws which are amazing in their simplicity.”
Melvin Schwartz (1932–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The beauty of a move lies not in its appearance but in the thought behind it.”
Aron Nimzowitsch (1886–1935) said by 1935 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Aron Nimzowitsch, as quoted in Nimzovich : The Hypermodern (1948) by Fred Reinfeld
Also quoted by: Siegbert Tarrasch (misattributed)
“Come on, Harold. People like us can always find experts to tell us what we want to hear. It’s the biggest problem we have. Everybody lies to us because they want things from us.”
Jack McDevitt (born 1935) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Make men work together show them that beyond their differences and geographical boundaries there lies a common interest.”
Jean Monnet (1888–1979) said by 1979 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Above all, it's creative thinking that lies at the basis of discoveries. You must dare to think differently, see things from different sides, in order to come across fortuitous new ideas frequently. You should develop even the most stupid ideas and when you do this systematically, there will always come something useful out of it.”
Simon van der Meer (1925–2011) first seen 1985 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: in De Libero van het CERN. Jaarboek 1985. Vereniging voor Technische Physica. TU Delft. p. 61.
“In their field they [mathematicians] do what we ought to be doing in ours. Therein lies the significant lesson … of their existence. They are an analogy for the intellectual of the future.”
Robert Musil (1880–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is no liar like the one who lies to himself. He has a fool indeed for an audience.”
Jane Yolen (1939–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification.”
Martin H. Fischer (1879–1962) first seen 1945 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Encore : A Continuing Anthology (March 1945) edited by Smith Dent, "Fischerisms" p. 309
“What do you get when you fall in love? You only get lies and pain and sorrow So, for at least, until tomorrow I'll never fall in love again”
Hal David (1921–2012) said by 2012 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“They [Taoists] were fond of pointing out that the value of cups, windows, and doorways lies in the part of them that are not there.”
Huston Smith (1919–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And therein lies the reason why motor industry people don't fawn on journalists. They're in the hot seat, deciding who gets to drive what and who gets to go where. Why should they grovel when they know that without their assistance the motoring journalist is up the creek without a boat, nevermind a paddle?”
Jeremy Clarkson (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Debates on the definitions of culture versus barbarism, or on the question of who is civilized and who is modern are best discussed in the light of Islamic doctrine. Quite significantly, this point must be kept in mind, particularly as a matter of concern to individuals of the educated classes of Islamic societies upon whom lies the burden of responsibility and leadership of the Umma.”
Ali Shariati (1933–1977) said by 1977 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Cover-ups and deception are the nature of this society. Without lies it won’t exist.”
“This is a decadent era. Its main characteristic is that it’s dependent on lies and cheating. Once it loses this characteristic, it can’t survive for even a day.”
Ai Weiwei (born 1957) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ai Weiwei on Twitter in English (beta). (February 22, 2011) http://aiwwenglish.tumblr.com/
“Sleep sweetly in your humble graves, Sleep, martyrs of a fallen cause; Though yet no marble column craves The pilgrim here to pause. Stoop, angels, hither from the skies! There is no holier spot of ground Than where defeated valor lies, By mourning beauty crowned!”
Henry Timrod (1828–1867) first seen 1867 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ode: Sung on the Occasion of Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead at Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, S.C., 1867", st. 1 & 5
“It was not called the Net of a Million Lies for nothing.”
Vernor Vinge (1944–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Perhaps the meaning of all human activity lies in the artistic consciousness, in the pointless and selfless creative act? Perhaps our capacity to create is evidence that we ourselves were created in the image and likeness of God?”
Andrei Tarkovsky (1932–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But history shows repeatedly the madness of crowds and the irrationality of majorities. The only conceivable merit relating to majority rule lies in the fact that if we obtain monopoly decisions by this process, we will coerce fewer persons than if we permit the minority to coerce the majority. But implicit in all political voting is the necessity to coerce some so that all are controlled.”
Robert LeFevre (1911–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Bagatorials: A Book Full of Bags by John Roscoe and Ned Roscoe, Simon & Schuster, "Abstain from Beans" (1996) p. 17.
“You may write me down in history With your bitter twisted lies You may trod me down in the very dirt And still like the dust I'll rise.”
Ben Harper (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The lifetime we've left behind with strangers Promises and lies both have their dangers. I just can't be wrong enough and I can't hide for long enough So far away, but I still feel your pain.”
Ben Harper (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“India needs quick and complete vaccination - not BJP's usual brand of lies and rhyming slogans to cover up vaccine shortage caused by Modi government’s inaction.”
Rahul Gandhi (born 1970) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Cultural History suggests that men have always had a greater inclination to close their eyes than to open them, to believe comforting lies rather than disconcerting truths.”
Stephen Vizinczey (1933–2021) first seen 1969 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Rules of Chaos (1969), p. 113
“Out of the mud and slime of lies, your holy red, white and black Swastika has been flung back into the skies in Virginia, United States of America, and we pledge you our lives, Adolf Hitler, that we shall not flag or fail until we have utterly destroyed the forces of Marxism and darkness.”
George Lincoln Rockwell (1918–1967) said by 1967 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fellowship with Jesus lies not alone in pleasurable emotions; you must learn it in suffering and in service.”
Anna Shipton (1815–1901) said by 1901 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Disordered nerves are the origin of much religious despair, when the individual does not suspect it; and then the body and mind have a reciprocal influence upon each other, and it is difficult to tell which influences the other most. The physician is often blamed, when the fault lies with the minister. Depression never benefits body or soul. We are saved by hope.”
Ichabod Spencer (1798–1854) said by 1854 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The benevolence of the Gospel lies in actions”
Thomas Chalmers (1780–1847) said by 1847 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A dim consciousness of infinite mystery and grandeur lies beneath all the commonplace of life. There is an awfulness and a majesty around us, in all our little worldliness.”
Albert Pike (1809–1891) said by 1891 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Duty is with us ever; and evermore forbids us to be idle. To work with the hands or brain, according to our acquirements and our capacities, to do that which lies before us to do, is more honorable than rank and title.”
Albert Pike (1809–1891) said by 1891 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Knowledge is simply a terrible ocean we must cross, and hope that wisdom lies on the other side.”
Paolo Bacigalupi (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Do me wrong, do me right, Tell me lies but hold me tight, Save your goodbyes for the morning light, But don't let me be lonely tonight.”
James Taylor (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I'm afraid the referendum resolved nothing and we do have to go back to the people and ask if what is now on offer is what they really voted for. We have got completely different views about what Brexit actually means. What has emerged over the last three years is that the prospectus on which the Leave vote was achieved was based on a tissue of lies to be frank.”
Vince Cable (born 1943) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: European elections 2019: Remainers are angry too, says Vince Cable, BBC News, 20 May 2019
“As the Raven Flies Lyrics I see the raven's made Her nest in your eyes She's got you thinking that Her love is a prize And you'll go under from The weight of her lies”
Dan Fogelberg (1951–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The encouragement of mere consumption is no benefit to commerce; for the difficulty lies in supplying the means, not in stimulating the desire of consumption; and we have seen that production alone, furnishes those means. Thus, it is the aim of good government to stimulate production, of bad government to encourage consumption.”
Jean-Baptiste Say (1767–1832) said by 1832 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The difficulty lies, not in finding a producer, but in finding a consumer.”
Jean-Baptiste Say (1767–1832) said by 1832 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have a mean schizophrenia demon in my head / My demon racks me with profanity / My demon tells me lies and says I'm a jerk, a bum and an asshole / My demon keeps me from joy bus riding by torturing me" - Wesley Willis”
Wesley Willis (1963–2003) said by 2003 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you want the score When you need a helping hand And you find closed doors And you're back where you began Keeping those secrets Telling those lies... Can anybody tell me What's the big surprise?”
Mike Oldfield (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What concern of mine are your affairs? Or Coren’s? What kind of peace would there be in me or in my house if I took interest in the wars and feuds that you weave in the courts below? I do not understand such things. I understand only what lies within my walls.”
Patricia A. McKillip (1948–2022) said by 2022 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To all my friends without distinction I am ready to display my opulence: come one, come all; and whosoever likes to take a share is welcome to the wealth that lies within my soul.”
Antisthenes (445–365 BC) said by 365 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We in our present generation stand on the cusp of a new and glorious dawn when mastery of these energies lies fully within our grasp as secret yields to inquiry, which yields to experimentation, which leads to verification and duplication, which, in the final course, leads to knowledge.”
Stephen R. Lawhead (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When the school children of Australia are told more truths about their own country, and fewer lies about the virtues of Royalty, the day will be near when we can place our own national flag in one of the proudest places among the ensigns of the world.”
Henry Lawson (1867–1922) first seen 1887 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Neglected History (1887)
“She isn't very clever or very devout,... and she certainly empties the whole salt cellar into the stories she tells me. But I love her because she never lies.”
Georges Bernanos (1888–1948) said by 1948 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“America’s special strength lies not in frightening the weak and challenging the strong, but in strengthening the weak and illumining the strong.”
Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The zest of life lies in right doing, not in the garnered harvest.”
John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) said by 1916 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Beauty lies not in the things we see, but in the soul.”
John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) said by 1916 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“How is it possible not to strive to know what the awakening minds of the young are eager to learn from us? It is little less than criminal that we should put them off with foolish speech or lies.”
John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) said by 1916 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To secure approval one must remain within the bounds of conventional mediocrity. Whatever lies beyond, whether it be greater insight and virtue, or greater stolidity and vice, is condemned. The noblest men, like the worst criminals, have been done to death.”
John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) said by 1916 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To defend our country we need to gather intelligence on the enemy but when the intelligence lies to Congress how are we to trust them? The phone records of law abiding citizens are none of their damn business.”