Logo - Feel The Words

Being Quotes

On identity, openness and staying true to yourself.

This set of quotes explores what it means to simply be: holding onto a child's spontaneity, embracing honesty that feels inappropriate in creative work, or aging with flexibility instead of resistance. For more on self-belief, see our Able quotes.

It seems to me the American people never really forgave the Democrats for being right about Vietnam.

Quotes by Paul Begala

It taught me that Clinton's instinct to make this about your life as a citizen, rather than his as a human being, was the right answer to these things.

Quotes by Paul Begala

I don't like being a voyeur, looking into other people's marriages.

Quotes by Paul Begala

Today, it is research with human embryonic stem cells and attempts to prepare cloned stem cells for research and medical therapies that are being disavowed as being ethically unacceptable.

Quotes by Paul Berg

You can fudge a lot as an actor, but you can't fudge being a parent.

Quotes by Paul Bettany

I find parties difficult. I like a dinner party, but I find being at parties difficult, so I choose not to go to parties.

Quotes by Paul Bettany

Americans just don't know what being a movie star's all about.

Quotes by Patti Smith

Then I read Little Women, and of course, like a lot of really young girls, I was very taken with Jo - Jo being the writer and the misfit.

Quotes by Patti Smith

As far as I'm concerned, being any gender is a drag.

Quotes by Patti Smith

I loved everything that went with rock n' roll. I loved being at the heart of such creativity and being young in such a stimulating and exciting era.

Quotes by Pattie Boyd

I try to eat healthy, but being Belgian, I'm also addicted to chocolate.

Quotes by Pattie Maes

It's like our country is being run by a bunch of bad alcoholic dads right now.

Quotes by Patton Oswalt

I mean, all alternative comedy is are comedians that have being doing it for so long, for so long, that they were relaxed enough to start becoming personal on stage.

Quotes by Patton Oswalt

One of my groupies gave me a film that they made, and it ended up being amazing, so I got it shown at South by Southwest. If I can help get their stuff out there, then great.

Quotes by Patton Oswalt

I kind of like the position of being the fair-haired savior of my mother.

Quotes by Patty Duke

I'm going to be 58, and I'm a woman. In this business, that seems to be a bigger crime than being mentally ill.

Quotes by Patty Duke

The mania started with insomnia and not eating and being driven, driven to find an apartment, driven to see everybody, driven to do New York, driven to never shut up.

Quotes by Patty Duke

One of the things that I have learned in the last few years is to stop being so damn critical of my own work.

Quotes by Patty Griffin

There's no question there needs to be higher-paying opportunities for women. It's not that it hasn't existed in certain categories: Certain women have made a lot of money... Jennifer Lawrence... is being paid a lot of money, rightfully so, for...

Quotes by Patrick Whitesell

I don't like being lied to.

Quotes by Patrick Wilson

Frequently Asked Questions

What perspectives on "being" show up in these quotes?
The quotes touch on being from a particular place ("Being from Louisiana and a big outdoorsman"), being childlike as a performer, being inappropriate as part of the craft of acting, and being flexible and open as part of aging well.
Is there a quote here about acting and creativity?
Yes, two: "As an actor, you always want to reach back to being a child and having the spontaneity and the imagination of a child," and "There's so much we can't express in our day-to-day interaction with people because it's considered inappropriate. And acting is all about being inappropriate." For more on consistent character traits, see Always.
What does this page say about aging?
"Aging gracefully means being flexible, being open, allowing change, enjoying change and loving yourself" offers a positive take on getting older, tied closely to the idea of "being" open to change.
Is there anything here about personal identity or background?
Yes: "Love the show 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.' Being from Louisiana and a big outdoorsman, I'm a big fan of 'Duck Dynasty' as well" ties personal identity to place and interests. For more quotes centered on personal likes, browse Like.
How does this page relate to the Able quotes page?
"Being" here is about states and qualities of a person - childlike, open, flexible - while Able focuses more on capability and what someone can do. Also check Good for more positive, character-focused quotes.

You may also like our Good quotes on positive character traits and Always quotes on consistency and steadfastness.