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.

Being in drag for three months - I now have an idea of what women go through. At least maybe a little.

Quotes by Michael Rosenbaum

Being an American doesn't mean that you're guaranteed a high wage. You have to be productive, and we have to create a very low-cost, efficient place to do business, and we've let all that slip in America.

Quotes by Michael Porter

One enjoyable consequence of being in the Scouts was that, at the start of each new school year, we had to camp out in tents on the school playing fields.

Quotes by Michael Portillo

Being No. 1. It's talked about all of the time in hip-hop. 'I'm still No. 1! I'm the best! I'm the greatest of all time!' It's the same mentality in sports.

Quotes by Michael Rapaport

No one is depressed when they're asleep, which is why being in bed is such a safe place if you're really down.

Quotes by Michael Redhill

The reason so many intelligent and creative people suffer from depression is that when you take the risk of being fully conscious, you open Pandora's box, and you can't close it again.

Quotes by Michael Redhill

Being a comedy writer gives you permission to be an outsider and poke fun at what people think about other people.

Quotes by Michael Patrick King

Being compared to Ian Thorpe, that could be one of the greatest compliments you could ever get in swimming - being compared to him and Mark Spitz.

Quotes by Michael Phelps

I learned my first lesson at the Walt Disney Company about not being able to trust my associates.

Quotes by Michael Ovitz

I'm not good at being static. I have to be climbing a mountain.

Quotes by Michael Ovitz

No person who denies the existence of a supreme being shall hold any office under this Constitution.

Quotes by Michael Newdow

I'm like a decathlete who does all of the events he's used to, but is being forced by certain circumstances to focus on three events, and being forced to focus on events that he wasn't that interested in, and also...

Quotes by Michael Nyman

I was not allowed to talk about being adopted when growing up. I walked around feeling like I was going to explode.

Quotes by Michael Nyqvist

There's nothing more invigorating than being deeply involved with a small company and a young team of founders out to do something incredibly special.

Quotes by Michael Moritz

I'm not a publicity hound. I don't care about being on the cover of 'GQ' or 'Vanity Fair.'

Quotes by Michael Madsen

I don't love being an actor, but I'm not qualified to be anything else. I was an auto mechanic and drove a tow truck and tried to go to school to be a paramedic.

Quotes by Michael Madsen

I was used to being successful in school, but academics didn't make me happy.

Quotes by Michael Masser

What you're seeing is tension that we've seen for years between President Erdogan and his military, his military being more secular, President Erdogan being a little more in the Islamist side of the house.

Quotes by Michael McCaul

Being in the studio, for me, can be a miserable experience - I can really psych myself out.

Quotes by Michael McDonald

Most times, lyrics are the last thing I listen to, being a musician.

Quotes by Michael McDonald

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.