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. 1,161,747 quotes Who coined it · How we decide

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“Back then "cruel and unusual punishment" meant the rack and burning at the stake — both of those things that had been used in pre-Revolutionary America — but in more recent rulings it has been taken to mean the absence of cable television and denial of sex-change operations, or just overcrowding in the prisons.”
Tom Clancy (1947–2013) first seen 1996 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Executive Orders (1996), p. 613
“There is no party in the world... pursuing right aims by right methods. Material Poverty provides the incentive to change... where there is very little margin for experiments. Material Prosperity removes the incentive just when it might be safe to take a chance.”
John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) said by 1946 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Marxists are ready to sacrifice the political liberties of individuals in order to change the existing economic order. So are Fascists and Nazis. That is why I said that those who had toyed with Marxist ideas could not have a clear conscience in defending the political liberties of individuals from reactionary attacks.”
John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) first seen 1934 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to the Editor of The New Statesman and Nation (11 August 1934)
“Today's strategy is the culmination of a journey of change both for progressive politics and for the country. It marks the end of the 1960s liberal, social consensus on law and order.”
Tony Blair (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ideals survive through change. They die through inertia in the face of challenge.”
Tony Blair (born 1953) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the European Parliament outlining the priorities of the British Presidency, (23 June 2005).
“The blunt truth about the politics of climate change is that no country will want to sacrifice its economy in order to meet this challenge.”
Tony Blair (born 1953) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Address to the 2005 G8 climate change summit in London, as reported by David Adam, "Blair signals shift over climate change", The Guardian (1 November 2005).
“In the modern world we have invented ways of speeding up invention, and people's lives change so fast that a person is born into one kind of world, grows up in another, and by the time his children are growing up, lives in still a different world.”
Margaret Mead (1901–1978) said by 1978 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fame, (fame) makes a man take things over Fame, (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow Fame, (fame) puts you there where things are hollow Fame (fame)Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame That burns your change to keep you insane (sane).”
David Bowie (1947–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“See these eyes so red Red like jungle burning bright Those who feel me near Pull the blinds and change their minds.”
David Bowie (1947–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We are going to change the [[w:GNU Free Documentation License|[GNU] Free Documentation License]] in such a way that Wikipedia will be able to become licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License. And so this is not, as some people speculated on Facebook my 50th birthday party. This is a party to celebrate the liberation of Wikipedia.”
Jimmy Wales (born 1966) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Announcing that the Wikimedia Foundation Board has voted to enable Wikipedia to be licensed under a Creative Commons license. "Wikipedia to be Licensed Under Creative Commons" (30 November 2007)
“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 change is from inner to outer. — We start by dissolving our attitude not by altering outer conditions.”
Bruce Lee (1940–1973) said by 1973 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Batting coaches are just as important as pitching coaches. Lefty O'Doul gave me good advice when he said: "Don't ever let them change you." I also asked for help from Cobb, Foxx and Hornsby.”
Ted Williams (1918–2002) first seen 1958 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Here's the Pitch" by Frank Finch, in The Los Angeles Times (June 5, 1958), p. C2
“The right to change the government by the ballot box and not the barrel of a gun; perhaps the best definition of a democracy.”
Elizabeth II (1926–2022) said by 2022 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Don't knock th' weather. Nine-tenths o' th' people couldn' start a conversation if it didn' change once in a while.”
Kin Hubbard (1868–1930) first seen 1914 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Abe Martin's Primer : The Collected Writings of Abe Martin and his Brown County, Indiana, Neighbors (1914).
“We cannot stem linguistic change, but we can drag our feet. If each of us were to defy Alexander Pope and be the last to lay the old aside, it might not be a better world, but it would be a lovelier language.”
Willard van Orman Quine (1908–2000) first seen 1987 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quiddities: An Intermittently Philosophical Dictionary (1987), p. 231
“To my mind this makes psychedelics central to any political reconstruction, because these are the only force in nature that actually dissolve linguistics structures; lets the mechanics of syntax to be visible, allows the possibility for rapid introduction and spread of new concepts; gives permission for new ways of seeing; and this is what we have to do, we have to change our minds.”
Terence McKenna (1946–2000) said by 2000 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Mark: Yeah, I mean, I concur. The change in the hair, you really light up the screen Hayley, you just, it's beautiful what you're doing. Um, the choice of song. I would never in a million of years have thought of that song for you and you almost got away with it but the bravery and the choice. Congratulations Hayley. Good on you.”
Hayley Jensen (born 1983) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And it was this that awed him — the weird combination of fixity and change, the terrible moment of immobility stamped with eternity in which, passing life at great speed, both the observer and the observed seem frozen in time.”
Thomas Wolfe (1900–1938) said by 1938 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Heed the lesson there, son.” “What lesson?” “Every decision you make can change the world. The best life is the one the gods don’t notice. You want to live free, boy, live quietly.” “I want to be a soldier. A hero.” “You’ll grow out of it.”
Steven Erikson (born 1959) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What would Jesus drive?" I don't know about you, but I always picture my God having a driver. Well, Jesus would naturally have an SUV, cause He always had those twelve idiots hanging around, making Him change shit into food every four and a half minutes. "See the cigarette? It's a fish. Leave me alone.”
Dennis Miller (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It would be impossible to reach unanimity on every aspect of our budget, but it's clear there is widespread support for the concept of change. We face a choice between either cutting waste out of government, or facing a new job killing tax increase every year from here on out.”
Mitt Romney (born 1947) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Press release, 2003-02-27
“As the world continues to change and we become more connected to each other, globalization will bring both benefits and disruptions to our lives. But either way, it's here, and it's not going away. We can try to build walls around us, and we can look inward, and we can respond by being frightened and angry about those disruptions.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world - one that makes you understand that your obligations to others extend beyond people who look like you and act like you and live in your neighborhood.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We know that our faith sometimes has been used as a wedge to divide us, but we also know that with a big God, with a loving and forceful God, if we unite in his name, we can finish his work on Earth. In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it. With a uniting faith, with a God powerful enough to empower us, we can take those bullets out.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I know you didn't do this for me. You did this—you did this because you believed so deeply in the most American of ideas—that in the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Iowa Caucus Victory Speech, Delivered at the Iowa Democratic caucus on 3 January 2008
“We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks of Senator Barack Obama on New Hampshire Primary Night (8 January 2008)
“We long for unity, but are unwilling to pay the price. But of course, true unity cannot be so easily won. It starts with a change in attitudes - a broadening of our minds, and a broadening of our hearts.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: The Great Need of the Hour (January 20, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia)
“This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation — the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Now, make no mistake: History is on the side of these brave Africans, not with those who use coups or change constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn't need strongmen; it needs strong institutions. Now, America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation. The essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Barack Obama: "Address to the Ghanaian Parliament in Accra, Ghana," July 11, 2009. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.
“We can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To be blunt, we went down that road in Iraq. Thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our troops and the determination of our diplomats, we are hopeful about Iraq’s future. But regime change there took eight years, thousands of American and Iraqi lives, and nearly a trillion dollars. That is not something we can afford to repeat in Libya.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The nature of our leadership will need to change with the times. As I said the first time I came to London as President, for the G20 summit, the days are gone when Roosevelt and Churchill could sit in a room and solve the world’s problems over a glass of brandy -– although I’m sure that Prime Minister Cameron would agree that some days we could both use a stiff drink.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We can continue down our current path, in which the gears of this great democracy grind to a halt and our children accept a life of lower expectations; where politics is a zero-sum game where a few do very well while struggling families of every race fight over a shrinking economic pie -- that’s one path. Or we can have the courage to change.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And if there is one thing that he and this year’s anniversary should teach us, if there’s one lesson I hope that Malia and Sasha and young people everywhere learn from this day, it’s that with enough effort, and enough empathy, and enough perseverance, and enough courage, people who love their country can change it.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2014 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks by the President at LBJ Presidential Library Civil Rights Summit at Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas on April 10, 2014.
“There is no change without risk, and no progress without sacrifice, and no freedom without solidarity.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And that impulse to make the world better, to push back on those who try to make it worse, that’s something that your generation has to hold on to. And you have to remember, it’s never easy; there are no days off. But if there’s one thing that I know from my own life, it’s that with hard work and with hope, change is always within our reach.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“So civil society is the conscience of our countries. It’s the catalyst of change. It’s why strong nations don’t fear active citizens. Strong nations embrace and support and empower active citizens.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What an extraordinary achievement. What a vindication of the belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. What a reminder of what Bobby Kennedy once said about how small actions can be like pebbles being thrown into a still lake, and ripples of hope cascade outwards and change the world.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And the ability of citizens to organize and advocate for change -- that's the oxygen upon which democracy depends.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Well, so around the world, there is a tradition of repressing women and treating them differently, and not giving them the same opportunities, and husbands beating their wives, and children not being sent to school. Those are traditions. Treating women and girls as second-class citizens, those are bad traditions. They need to change. They’re holding you back.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The demographics of the country are going to change. It's inevitable. The Latino community in America is going to grow. If you stopped all immigration today, just by virtue of birth rates, this is going to be a browner country.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: NPR's Exit Interview With President Obama (19 December 2016)
“And I've always believed in what Martin Luther King, Jr. called “the fierce urgency of now” -- we should not fear change, we should embrace it.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There’s already an evolution taking place inside of Cuba, a generational change. Many suggested that I come here and ask the people of Cuba to tear something down -- but I’m appealing to the young people of Cuba who will lift something up, build something new.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“America does not ask us to be perfect. Precisely because of our individual imperfections, our founders gave us institutions to guard against tyranny and ensure no one is above the law; a democracy that gives us the space to work through our differences and debate them peacefully, to make things better, even if it doesn’t always happen as fast as we’d like. America gives us the capacity to change.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[W]ithout bolder action, our children won't have time to debate the existence of climate change. They'll be busy dealing with its effects: more environmental disasters, more economic disruptions, waves of climate refugees seeking sanctuary.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You know, I have said before, and I will say again, that when we started on this journey, we did so with an abiding faith in the American people and their ability, our ability, to join together and change the country in ways that would make life better for our kids and our grandkids.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Change happens. Hope happens. Not perfection. Not every bit of cruelty and sadness and poverty and disease suddenly stricken from the earth. There will still be problems. But with each new candidate that surprises you with a victory that you supported, a spark of hope happens.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. It's an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible –– and there is still so much work to do.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in " Obama marks Juneteenth: 'A celebration of progress'" by Marina Pitofsky, The Hill (19 June 2020)
“Change the attitude toward errors. Think of an object's user as attempting to do a task, getting there by imperfect approximations. Don't think of the user as making errors; think of the actions as approximations of what is desired.”
Donald Norman (born 1935) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source