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.

Feeling better is not actually being better.

Quotes by James Randi

The most painful thing about mathematics is how far away you are from being able to use it after you have learned it.

Quotes by James Newman

Being in a person's head for five months, where they're so hateful, is kind of exhausting.

Quotes by James Norton

I'm not that interested in just being around powerful people for the sake of it.

Quotes by James P. Gorman

I have a very toxic combination of being completely determined, inflexible, controlling and being totally shy, guilty at hurting anyone's feelings, hypersensitive to other people's needs - and it's just paralysing.

Quotes by James Murphy

If being in a band was my job, then I would quit. This is not a good job. A good job is in financial management.

Quotes by James Murphy

The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

Quotes by James Madison

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

Quotes by James Madison

The development of the meaning attaching to the personal self, the conscious being, is the subject matter of the history of psychology.

Quotes by James Mark Baldwin

I'm quite comfortable with being a geek. I've been a geek since high school.

Quotes by James Marsters

I take a lot of pride in being myself. I'm comfortable with who I am.

Quotes by James McAvoy

Everybody knew James Brown. Every musician dreamed of being in his band.

Quotes by James McBride

The consequence was, that the most sudden and visible good effects were perceived from the use of oranges and lemons; one of those who had taken them, being at the end of 6 days fit for duty.

Quotes by James Lind

In the case of the armies at Fredericksburg it would have been, to say the least, very hazardous to give counter-attack, the Federal position being about as strong as ours from which we had driven them back.

Quotes by James Longstreet

Pickett's lines being nearer, the impact was heaviest upon them.

Quotes by James Longstreet

The process of being filmed was, I found, peculiar but not discomfiting. At 13, you are malleable, adaptable, better able to take the unusual in your stride.

Quotes by James Lovegrove

Strength instead of being the lusty child of passion, grows by grappling with and subduing them.

Quotes by James M. Barrie

Me being at Coventry, instead of a big Premier League club, probably helped me develop. You don't get put in the academy system, playing Under-18s and Under-23s.

Quotes by James Maddison

The only way you're going to improve is playing games and learning, being a regular week on week.

Quotes by James Maddison

What distinguishes the campaign finance issue from just about every other one being debated these days is that the two sides do not divide along conventional liberal/ conservative lines.

Quotes by James L. Buckley

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.