Famous Quotes | 40 Examples & Inspiration

Famous quotes are iconic lines from movies, historical figures, speeches, and literature. Take a look at this curated list and see which ones you know already. Who knows, you might even discover new cultural touchpoints to expand your horizons.

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Famous quotes

Famous quotes persist in the popular imagination because they speak to the human condition. These often cover topics like aging, success, and being true to oneself.

Famous quotes also include wise sayings from literature that have withstood the test of time, along with classic lines from film. Sometimes, quotes also become well-known because of the person who said it, whether that be Marilyn Monroe or Albert Einstein.

Famous movie quotes

Famous movie quotes are part of what makes a film a classic. Whether or not you’ve seen the following movies, you’ve likely heard some of these iconic lines.

Here are some of the most famous movie quotes of all time:

1. “My mama always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’”  —Forrest Gump (1994)
2. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” —Gone with the Wind (1939)
3. “E.T. phone home.” —E.T. (1982)
4. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” —Dirty Dancing (1987)
5. “Louis, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.” —Casablanca (1942)
6. “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” —The Sound of Music (1965)
7. “Not all those who wander are lost.” —The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
8. “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” —The Godfather (1972)
9. “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” —The Wizard of Oz (1939)
10. “May the force be with you.” —Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Famous quotes about life

Famous quotes about life tend to offer sage advice or reflections on the human condition. Check out these famous quotes that have persisted throughout the ages.

1. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ―Oscar Wilde, poet and playwright
2. “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” ―Bernard M. Baruch, financier and US presidential advisor
3. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ―Maya Angelou, memoirist and essayist
4. “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” ―André Gide, author
5. “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” —Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher
6. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” —Socrates, philosopher
7. “There is nothing permanent except change.” —Heraclitus, philosopher
8. “If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” —A. A. Milne, author of Winnie-the-Pooh
9. “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…” —Charles Dickens, novelist and journalist
10. “You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, / Love like you’ll never be hurt, / Sing like there’s nobody listening, / And live like it’s heaven on earth.” ―William W. Purkey, author

Quotes from famous people

Sometimes what makes a quote iconic has more to do with who said it. Whether it be a famous actress, playwright, scientist, or historical figure, these lines play a part in their lasting legacy.

Here are some classic quotes from famous people you’ll likely recognize:

1. “I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” ―Marilyn Monroe, actress and model
2. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ―Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights activist
3. “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” —Lucille Ball, actress and comedian
4. “This above all: to thine own self be true”—William Shakespeare, playwright
5. “If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.” ―Albert Einstein, physicist
6. “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” —Anne Frank, diarist
7. “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” —Michelangelo, sculptor and painter
8. “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” ―Mark Twain, writer and satirist
9. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’” —Mr. Rogers, TV personality
10. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!” —Audrey Hepburn, actress

Famous quotes about success

Life is full of trials and challenges. Some of the most famous quotes speak to the core truth of what it takes to be successful: to be willing to try in the first place and then not to give up.

If you could use a little motivation, check out these famous quotes about success to get inspired:

1. “Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.” —Kate Sanborn, author and teacher
2. “Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable” —Coco Chanel, fashion designer
3. “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” —Albert Einstein
4. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” —Zig Ziglar
5. It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up. – Vince Lombardi
6. “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” —Wayne Gretzky, hockey player
7. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” —Thomas A. Edison, inventor
8. “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” —Herman Melville, writer
9. “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” —Thomas H. Palmer, writer and educator
10. “For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be… I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” —The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Frequently asked questions about famous quotes

What are examples of famous inspirational quotes?

Examples of famous inspirational quotes include:

• “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” ―Andre Gide, author
• “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!” —Audrey Hepburn, actress

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What are some quotes by famous people?

Some quotes by famous people are:

• “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’” —Mr. Rogers, TV personality
• “If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.” ―Albert Einstein, physicist

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What are the most famous quotes?

The most famous quotes will depend heavily on your language, region, and cultural context.

In English, some of the most famous quotes come from the playwright William Shakespeare. These include:

• “This above all: to thine own self be true.”
• “To be, or not to be? That is the question.”
• “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

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What are some famous quotes about education?

Some famous quotes about education include the following:

• “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” —Allan Bloom, US philosopher and founder of the Bloom’s taxonomy framework for understanding educational goals
• “Education is the key that unlocks the golden door of freedom to our people.” —George Washington Carver, early 20th century scientist and inventor
• “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., US civil rights leader
• “Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty.” —19th century US abolitionist and orator
• “When someone takes away your pens, you realize quite how important education is.” —Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and female education activist

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