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 know you can be funny without being filthy.

Quotes by Jonathan Winters

It was the rootlessness that went with being the son of an RAF officer that shaped me. I had been to 11 schools by the time I was 9.

Quotes by Jonathan Powell

I made a sofa that is constantly being updated the more people sit on it, or sit through it, or don't sit on it because it's so uncomfortable.

Quotes by Jonathan Pryce

I remember watching 'Fargo.' I thought that was cruel. 'GoodFellas,' lots of Scorsese stuff, I think is unnecessarily violent and almost a celebration of violence. I don't see 'Game of Thrones' as being a celebratory violence.

Quotes by Jonathan Pryce

I like being 30. I wouldn't want to do the twenties again. They are their own entity.

Quotes by Jonathan Rhys Meyers

I see the cartoonist as contributing to the content, being critical, because we do poke holes in some of the dialogue and find new ways of seeing things.

Quotes by Jonathan Shapiro

Apparently, the prerequisite to being a gay public figure is to appear on the cover of a magazine with the caption 'I am gay'. I apologize for not doing so if this is what was expected!

Quotes by Jonathan Knight

I just always had this feeling inside me of always being nervous and afraid of situations.

Quotes by Jonathan Knight

Being on 'Nashville' and working with some incredible people like T-Bone Burnett and Buddy Miller - so many wonderful, incredible musicians that I've been blessed to play with and observe - that has continued to shape the process of arranging...

Quotes by Jonathan Jackson

That's what rock music is, I think - constantly searching for authenticity, and being as honest as possible.

Quotes by Jonathan Jackson

My greatest reward is knowing for certain, as I do with many other acts and artistes, that without Jonathan King being alive and involved, Genesis would not exist, and the guys would have had careers as intended - as accountants...

Quotes by Jonathan King

I'm a human being and every human being has problems.

Quotes by Jonathan Davis

But as far as being popular, yeah, I think Dave Barry is really funny.

Quotes by Jonathan Franzen

Yes, I got my first Bolex camera a few weeks after being dropped in New York by the United Nations Refugee Organization. That was on October 29th, 1949. With my brother Adolfas, we wanted to make a film about displaced...

Quotes by Jonas Mekas

I don't like to publicly acknowledge being a Jew.

Quotes by Jonathan Ames

I've died so many times. I'm 65. On my 40th birthday, my girlfriend gave me a reel with ways I had died, whether it was by knife, or electrocution or drowning or being thrown off a building or whatever it...

Quotes by Jonathan Banks

Lohan and I talk about just things that happen. It's Lindsay. She's great. I went from not knowing who she was to not being able to get rid of her because she's everywhere. She's on everything.

Quotes by Jonathan Bennett

I don't like being told someone's interpretation of something that I do.

Quotes by Jonathan Brandis

My biggest fear as an actor is being involved in something mediocre, or being mediocre myself.

Quotes by Jonathan Brandis

I have an obligation as a writer to tell a story as interestingly as possible, but with integrity and not inserting false drama... I'm looking to be subtle, but being a wordsmith does not interest me - I want to...

Quotes by Jonathan Coleman

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.