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.

In any case, Ives encouraged me to go into music even though he himself had such a hard time being a composer.

Quotes by Elliott Carter

I'm not a serious photographer like many of my contemporaries. That is to say, I am serious about not being serious.

Quotes by Elliott Erwitt

I guess from my perspective being a female athlete as well, there's probably not a huge amount of female athlete books out there.

Quotes by Ellyse Perry

Being together on the field as a group, operating as a team, making important plays is a great thing.

Quotes by Ellyse Perry

I love being put into situations which are competitive and tough and challenging.

Quotes by Ellyse Perry

The easiest way to propagandize people is to let a propaganda theme go in through an entertainment picture when people do not realize they are being propagandized.

Quotes by Elmer Davis

I decided to write Westerns because there was a terrific market for Westerns in the '50s. There were a lot of pulp magazines, like 'Dime Western' and '10 Story Western' that were still being published. The better ones paid two...

Quotes by Elmore Leonard

I've always been drawn to stories and telling them; whether it was through being a part of theater when I was a little kid, or film, or with music, there's just been an innate desire to feel that connection.

Quotes by Ellen Page

Being a mother is magical.

Quotes by Ellen Pompeo

Being a mother is the most fun job I've ever had.

Quotes by Ellen Pompeo

The computer's there to serve the human being, not vice versa.

Quotes by Ellen Ullman

A computer is a general-purpose machine with which we engage to do some of our deepest thinking and analyzing. This tool brings with it assumptions about structuredness, about defined interfaces being better. Computers abhor error.

Quotes by Ellen Ullman

UNIX always presumes you know what you're doing. You're the human being, after all, and it is a mere operating system.

Quotes by Ellen Ullman

Through the miracle of natural genetic recombination, each child, with the sole exception of an identical twin, is conceived as a unique being. Even the atmosphere of the womb works its subtle changes, and by the time we emerge into...

Quotes by Ellen Ullman

I just want to keep being creative, and I want to feel inspired by a role, and I want to keep acting.

Quotes by Ellen Wong

The nature of how we are as human beings is that we're much more interested in being critical rather than praising something.

Quotes by Ellie Goulding

It was fantastic returning to 'Being Human'. When I got cast in the role, at first I just thought it was for one episode, and the fans were really great about it, and it was really nice having that reaction.

Quotes by Ellie Kendrick

I'm still very much about being an actor. That's why I'm not married with kids.

Quotes by Elliot Cowan

Even though momentarily I thought about being a doctor, I was always involved in theatre and did a drama degree. I just didn't have the guts to go, 'Yes, I'm going to be an actor,' until I was probably 21.

Quotes by Elliot Cowan

Everything, everything in war is barbaric... But the worst barbarity of war is that it forces men collectively to commit acts against which individually they would revolt with their whole being.

Quotes by Ellen Key

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.