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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“Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present generation, to preserve your Freedom! — I hope you will make a good use of it. — if you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the pains to preserve it. —”
John Adams (1735–1826) first seen 1777 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Abigail Adams (27 April 1777), published as Letter CXI in Letters of John Adams, Addressed to His Wife (1841) edited by Charles Francis Adams, p. 218
“I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”
John Adams (1735–1826) first seen 1800 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On the White House, in a letter to Abigail Adams (2 November 1800)
“I can never join with my voice in the toast which I see in the papers attributed to one of our gallant naval heroes. I cannot ask of heaven success, even for my country, in a cause where she should be in the wrong. Fiat justitia, pereat coelum. My toast would be, may our country always be successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.”
John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) first seen 1816 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to his father, John Adams (1 August 1816), referring to the popular phrase "My Country, Right or Wrong!" based upon Stephen Decatur's famous statement "Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she…
“Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.”
Sun Tzu (544–470 BC) said by 470 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The subject [of Stalin's death] permitted a rare blend of invective and speculation—both Hearst papers, as I recall, ran cartoons of Stalin being rebuffed at the gates of Heaven, where Hearst had no correspondents—and I have seldom enjoyed a week of newspaper reading more.”
A. J. Liebling (1904–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Just Enough Liebling: Classic Work by the Legendary New Yorker Writer (2004), p. 23
“HIV doesn't make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it.”
Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Lately I have come to believe that the principal difference between heaven and hell is the company you keep there.”
Lois McMaster Bujold (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Heaven weeps, but free will is sacred. The meaning of yes is created by the ability to say no.”
Lois McMaster Bujold (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Angel was in the earth, and she led me to fix my eyes in Heaven. - And the remnants of the world were renewed by children and it was called Paradise.”
Bruce Baillie (1931–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That a marriage ends is less than ideal; but all things end under heaven, and if temporality is held to be invalidating, then nothing real succeeds.”
John Updike (1932–2009) first seen 1979 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Too Far To Go, foreword (1979)
“Zeus had loved his old friend, and lifted him up, and set him among the stars as the constellation Sagittarius. Here, in the Zodiac, now above, now below the horizon, he assists in the regulation of our destinies, though in this latter time few living mortals cast their eyes respectfully toward Heaven, and fewer still sit as students to the stars.”
John Updike (1932–2009) said by 2009 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When two-three different religions claim that only their own religions are true and all other religions are false, their religions are only ways to Heaven, conflicts can not be avoided. Thus, fundamentalism tries to abolish all other religions. This is called Bolshevism in religion. Only the path shown by the Hinduism can relieve the world from this meanness.”
Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) said by 1941 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“O tender yearning, sweet hoping! The golden time of first love! The eye sees the open heaven, The heart is intoxicated with bliss; O that the beautiful time of young love Could remain green forever.”
Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) first seen 1799 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Song of the Bell (1799)
“Joy, thou spark from Heav'n immortal, Daughter of Elysium! Drunk with fire, toward Heaven advancing Goddess, to thy shrine we come. Thy sweet magic brings together What stern Custom spreads afar; All men become brothers Where thy happy wing-beats are.”
Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) said by 1805 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Lo, the dead shall rise to heaven! Brethren hail the blest decree; Every sin shall be forgiven, Hell forever cease to be!”
Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) said by 1805 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“: This feat of Tell, the archer, will be told While yonder mountains stand upon their base. : By heaven! The apple's cleft right through the core.”
Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) said by 1805 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Maiden, and mistress of the months and stars Now folded in the flowerless fields of heaven.”
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) said by 1909 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Before the beginning of years There came to the making of man Time with a gift of tears, Grief with a glass that ran, Pleasure with pain for leaven, Summer with flowers that fell, Remembrance fallen from heaven, And Madness risen from hell, Strength without hands to smite, Love that endures for a breath; Night, the shadow of light, And Life, the shadow of death.”
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) said by 1909 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Who knows but on their sleep may rise Such light as never heaven let through To lighten earth from Paradise?”
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) said by 1909 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A baby's feet, like sea-shells pink Might tempt, should heaven see meet, An angel's lips to kiss, we think, A baby's feet.”
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) said by 1909 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There can be no doubt that the Virgin Mary is in heaven. How it happened we do not know.”
Martin Luther (1483–1546) said by 1546 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thwackum was for doing justice, and leaving mercy to heaven.”
Henry Fielding (1707–1754) said by 1754 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thus Angels' Bread is made The Bread of man today: The Living Bread from Heaven With figures doth away: O wondrous gift indeed! The poor and lowly may Upon their Lord and Master feed.”
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) said by 1274 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“O saving Victim, opening wide The gate of heaven to man below, Our foes press on from every side, Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.”
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) said by 1274 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“O that our souls could scale a height like this, A mighty mountain swept o'er by the bleak Keen winds of heaven; and, standing on that peak Above the blinding clouds of prejudice, Would we could see all truly as it is; The calm eternal truth would keep us meek.”
Robinson Jeffers (1887–1962) first seen 1904 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Hill-Top View (1904); This is one of his earliest poems, printed in the Aurora, a student publication of Occidental College.
“It has been said that the United Nations was not created in order to bring us to heaven, but in order to save us from hell.”
Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961) first seen 1954 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Address at the University of California, Berkeley (13 May 1954)
“I've not given them (the poor people of Bihar) heaven, but I've given them a voice.”
Lalu Prasad Yadav (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My idea of heaven is, eating pâté de foie gras to the sound of trumpets.”
Sydney Smith (1771–1845) said by 1845 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: View ascribed by Smith to his friend Henry Luttrell; reported in Hesketh Pearson, The Smith of Smiths (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1934), p. 236
“...the Kingdom of Heaven is not a place, but a state of mind.”
John Burroughs (1837–1921) said by 1921 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And we hurt the ones that we love the most Why we do only heaven knows And I don't know why I'm still holding on, holding on.I reach in my heart to see If your love is alive in me But now I feel alone My feelings turn to stone My heart makes no apologies.”
Alanis Morissette (born 1974) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The candle aimed its spear of light at heaven, like an artist who consumes himself to become divine.”
John Steinbeck (1902–1968) said by 1968 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is worth while to be kind and generous,” he said. “Not only do such actions pile up a house of joy in Heaven; but there is, too, a quick reward here on earth. One feels a golden warmth glowing like a hot enchilada in one’s stomach.”
John Steinbeck (1902–1968) said by 1968 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And she arose, and in that darkening room Stood lonely as a spirit of the night — Stood calm and fearless in the gathered night — And raised her eyes to heaven. There were tears Upon her face, but in her heart was peace. Peace that the world nor gives nor takes away!”
Lewis Carroll (1832–1898) first seen 1856 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Path of Roses (1856), concluding lines
“We comprehend the earth only when we have known heaven. Without the spiritual world the material world is a disheartening enigma.”
Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) said by 1824 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Eyes raised towards Heaven are always beautiful, whatever they be.”
Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) said by 1824 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When I see young people such as those of our day, I think that Heaven wishes to destroy the world.”
Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) said by 1824 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Illusions comes from heaven and mistakes come from us.”
Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) said by 1824 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“…Just you bloody hypocrites with your four wives and your ten thousand houris in heaven?…”
Anthony Burgess (1917–1993) said by 1993 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Despite Jesus's appearance on the earth to preach the doctrine of love, and despite the stout work of his disciples (all put to death in curiously ludic ways by the serious), it cannot be said that the kingdom of heaven he promised as a reward for love is as yet likely to overtake the kingdom of the serious, which we also may call the kingdom of Caesar.”
Anthony Burgess (1917–1993) said by 1993 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch perfect speed. And that isn't flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn't have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there.”
Richard Bach (born 1936) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“May all good fellows that here agree Drink Audit Ale in heaven with me, And may all my enemies go to hell! Noël! Noël! Noël! Noël! May all my enemies go to hell! Noël! Noël!”
Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) said by 1953 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is not much sense in suffering, since drugs can be given for pain, itching, and other discomforts. The belief has long died that suffering here on earth will be rewarded in heaven. Suffering has lost its meaning.”
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926–2004) said by 2004 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Witness the man who raves at the wall Making the shape of his question to Heaven Whether the sun will fall in the evening Will he remember the lesson of giving Set the controls for the heart of the sun”
Roger Waters (born 1943) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" on A Saucerful of Secrets (Pink Floyd, 1968)
“The last and greatest herald of Heaven's King, Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild, Among that savage brood the woods forth bring, Which he than man more harmless found and mild.”
William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585–1649) first seen 1623 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: For the Baptist" Flowers of Sion (1623).
“We're drinking and we're dancing but there's nothing really happening. The place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night.”
Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose under heaven.”
Pete Seeger (1919–2014) first seen 1954 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Turn! Turn! Turn!" (1954); a song which adapts a passage from the book of Ecclesiastes to music, with a few additional lyrics.
“Each and every master, regardless of the era or the place, heard the call and attained harmony with heaven and earth. There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji, but there is only one summit — love.”
Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969) said by 1969 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Morihei Ueshiba, as quoted in You Can Save the Earth: 7 Reasons Why and 7 Simple Ways, a Philosophy for the Future (2008) by Hatherleigh, Sean K. Smith, and Andrew Flach, p. 92
“One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.”
Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969) said by 1969 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“May the Kami of Earth and Heaven watch our acts of purification.”
Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969) said by 1969 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Jumped in the river, what did I see? Black-eyed angels swam with me A moonful of stars and astral cars And all the figures I used to see All my lovers were there with me All my past and futures And we all went to heaven in a little row boat There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt”
Thom Yorke (born 1968) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source