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 was sure we would never see the adoption of the Euro. Countries giving up their currencies for a common tender was, it seemed to me, completely out of tune with currency being a carrier of people's cultural identity, celebrating...

Quotes by John Naisbitt

I'm flattered to be called a sex symbol and, on occasion - if I've had a nice bottle of Beaujolais - I can imagine myself really being one.

Quotes by John Nettles

I do miss sometimes being onstage, because when I do film and television, it's usually so brief and funny.

Quotes by John Michael Higgins

I think being dead isn't any problem. It's the process of dying which is quite off-putting.

Quotes by John Mortimer

Since the printing press came into being, poetry has ceased to be the delight of the whole community of man; it has become the amusement and delight of the few.

Quotes by John Masefield

The importance of money flows from it being a link between the present and the future.

Quotes by John Maynard Keynes

There is no harm in being sometimes wrong - especially if one is promptly found out.

Quotes by John Maynard Keynes

Being born into the Royal Family is like being born into a mental asylum. Marrying into it is not something to be taken lightly.

Quotes by John Lydon

I don't like the monikers, and I don't like being pigeonholed. You know, I'm a human being.

Quotes by John Lydon

Being an astronaut, there are not a lot of things that have really shocked me in my life.

Quotes by John M. Grunsfeld

We're being very careful that we don't send a spacecraft to Mars with the intention of detecting Martian life - and find out that we detected the Earth life that we took with us.

Quotes by John M. Grunsfeld

The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else.

Quotes by John Madden

Don't worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon.

Quotes by John Madden

You've had an extremely weak euro on the foreign exchange markets, you've had a very dubious policy being followed.

Quotes by John Major

I don't think there is necessarily a contradiction between being a hegemonic power on the one hand and functioning multilaterally on the other.

Quotes by John Lewis Gaddis

In just three years, Iraq has achieved immense progress. It has had three successful elections in which 80% of their citizens voted, even while being threatened with death.

Quotes by John Linder

All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.

Quotes by John Locke

There's a certain confidence that comes with being sure about the way the world works.

Quotes by John Legend

I like drama. I love being in a drama where I get to be the funny guy. That's what I really love the most.

Quotes by John Leguizamo

The thing I gravitated to was being the class clown. It was very competitive.

Quotes by John Leguizamo

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.