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.

Interesting-looking people have always been comedians, and it's rare that someone who has the choice to model ends up being a comic. Except for maybe Whitney Cummings, but that's about it. That's why she's special: because she can combine it.

Quotes by Lisa Lampanelli

I remember, after the Pamela Anderson roast, being told, 'You're sold out - you can add two more shows.'

Quotes by Lisa Lampanelli

It's really hard to balance work and being a mother.

Quotes by Lisa Loeb

I'm always accused of being a crime novelist, but I'm not really.

Quotes by Lisa Lutz

I was never obsessed with being adopted. I was simply curious about my biological parents.

Quotes by Lisa Lutz

It probably can take me anywhere I want to be, but I have to be honest, being attorney general is a great job.

Quotes by Lisa Madigan

For most jobs, especially those in the digital economy, there is no objective standard for being 'qualified.' If you and the team you're working with think you're qualified, you are.

Quotes by Lisa Gansky

I'm proud of being Hispanic.

Quotes by Lisa Guerrero

Being attractive and being credible can and do go together.

Quotes by Lisa Guerrero

I think being creative is incredibly difficult and painful.

Quotes by Lisa Hanawalt

I changed my mind about being a famous pop star when I realised that it meant I'd never be able to get on the Tube again.

Quotes by Lisa Jewell

That whole idea of chick lit being a thing that you just lump all the commercial female writers into - it went on for years.I'd switch on the radio, and I'd hear, 'Two female authors are here to discuss chick...

Quotes by Lisa Jewell

Being named among the best at something is special and beautiful. But if there are no titles, nothing is won.

Quotes by Lionel Messi

As a woman, I'd be uneasy about being given the power to determine what is insulting to women in general.

Quotes by Lionel Shriver

Criminality being partially preordained may seem to let culprits off the hook. Yet it also makes the proclivity seem ineradicable and suggests that reform is unlikely: once a baddie, always a baddie.

Quotes by Lionel Shriver

In economics, 'competitiveness' does not describe Barack Obama's insistence on not only being president of the U.S. but also beating his staff at bowling.

Quotes by Lionel Shriver

We who are liberal and progressive know that the poor are our equals in every sense except that of being equal to us.

Quotes by Lionel Trilling

When I was growing up in California, being vegetarians differentiated my mother and me from normal, held us away from the masses.

Quotes by Lisa Brennan-Jobs

As a public official and being so highly visible, I have a responsibility to make it very clear that those people who will have cancer at one point in their lives will be able to function.

Quotes by Lindy Boggs

Playing with different genres and perspectives and ways of telling stories is one of the perks of being a novelist, but at the same time, I want precision. And in order to be precise about stuff, you have to get...

Quotes by Linn Ullmann

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.