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.

I had no intention of being an actor.

Quotes by Nelsan Ellis

I rejected being a lot of things that I grew up in, and yet I didn't. I got all my tactics from where I grew up... I can talk about all the people in those environments more than I can...

Quotes by Nelsan Ellis

I'd put the ninety-nine billion dollars - whatever it is - that's being appropriated for the Air Force and the Navy, and I'd put it into schools. I'd put it into traveling scholarships.

Quotes by Nelson Algren

A lot of women - not all of them, a lot of them - feel insecure about men being men.

Quotes by Neil Strauss

Being diabetic was not what I thought of as being normal, and I feared the stigma of having to take medicine and having people stick me with a needle.

Quotes by Nell Carter

Education is very important, and the botanical garden is the place to do that. I grew up in a semi-rural area and learned from that being my playground.

Quotes by Nell Newman

My dad died 11 years ago, I don't see much of my brothers, and I rarely speak to my mum. I don't hold a grudge, but being separated in those early years clearly had an impact. Our relationship didn't develop...

Quotes by Neil Morrissey

I am very proud of being Jewish.

Quotes by Neil Sedaka

So I think rather than being attracted so much now to working with my heroes, I'm sort of more attracted to working with completely unlikely strangers because it's more exciting really.

Quotes by Neil Finn

I love being in the studio.

Quotes by Neil Finn

I love stories - devising them, writing them, reading them, watching them, being a part of them.

Quotes by Neil Jackson

I am happy being a playback singer and performer.

Quotes by Neha Kakkar

Gliders, sail planes, they're wonderful flying machines. It's the closest you can come to being a bird.

Quotes by Neil Armstrong

I thought the attractions of being an astronaut were actually, not so much the Moon, but flying in a completely new medium.

Quotes by Neil Armstrong

I always think about what's the difference between being tenacious and having an inability to learn from failures. The difference between the homeless guy who wanted to be a great painter and the guy who is a great painter could...

Quotes by Neil Burger

I've always prided myself on being the lowest-profile member of the Bush family.

Quotes by Neil Bush

Space only becomes ordinary when the frontier is no longer being breached.

Quotes by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Arguably, no artist grows up: If he sheds the perceptions of childhood, he ceases being an artist.

Quotes by Ned Rorem

I have had periods when I've overused a word, 'candent' being one example, but I'm trying not to do that any more.

Quotes by Neal Asher

Sentimental is not bad, but it’s probably the most likely to go awry. It’s the hardest to do and not have it end up being 'Forrest Gump' or something. Maudlin - I just don’t want it to be maudlin.

Quotes by Neal Brennan

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.