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.

Work at being a humble person.

Quotes by John Templeton

When I was little, I didn't like being left on my own in the dark.

Quotes by John Terry

I think Morse's thing about being a poor policeman but a good detective is a very good description of him.

Quotes by John Thaw

Let's not dismiss or attack individual ideas as being inadequate before we have had a chance to assess their positive effect as part of a whole solution.

Quotes by John Thune

It is questionable if all the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day's toil of any human being.

Quotes by John Stuart Mill

I get appalled when I see good drivers being left on the sidelines because they haven't come up with the half million to a million to put themselves in a competitive car.

Quotes by John Surtees

I used to be mouthy. It was all to do with being a northerner and from Manchester, which was suddenly a big deal when I was in my 20s. When I read some of the interviews I did back then,...

Quotes by John Simm

Michael Taylor is not being executed for homicide. Michael Taylor is being executed for raping a white female.

Quotes by John Simon

The problem and privilege we all have is being alive in this century and able to read this language. It makes any list meaningless except the list of an illiterate.

Quotes by John Sladek

MTV refers to its audience as 'the demo.' Being 'in the demo' means being in the demographic sweet spot that advertisers want their programming to hit, which is ideally between 18 and 24.

Quotes by John Seabrook

I love being able to be a writer. That's what I moved to New York to be.

Quotes by John Searles

You have to remember now, I was not being terribly successful at going solo.

Quotes by John Sebastian

As early as the autumn of 1862, I was made very happy by being sent to school.

Quotes by John Sergeant Wise

I remember being shocked when I came out from under the focusing cloth after a minute or two being submerged within that, at the startling green color of those ferns.

Quotes by John Sexton

I am trying to understand what it means to be a Christian without being religious.

Quotes by John Shelby Spong

I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something I wanted to be. An outfielder was something to be. Most of what I know about style I learned from Roberto Clemente.

Quotes by John Sayles

I couldn't resist painting Orpheus and Charon on the River Styx. There was something strangely intriguing about seeing Orpheus playing his lyre as he is being shuttled across the river.

Quotes by John Rocco

There are too many games being developed by people that have no business creating games.

Quotes by John Romero

I'm creating the kind of games that I like right now. I'm not being held back by technology.

Quotes by John Romero

I plan on being a friend, a good leader and a good governor over these next three years.

Quotes by John Rowland

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.