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Never Quotes

Quotes on what never happens.

This page gathers quotes centered on absence and limits - books that stayed unpublished, and a pointed line arguing that secrecy is fundamentally undesirable, merely tolerated when unavoidable. Related reading includes Life Quotes.

We'd never have got a chance to go outside and look at the earth if it hadn't been for space exploration and NASA.

Quotes by James Lovelock

Never ascribe to an opponent motives meaner than your own.

Quotes by James M. Barrie

The most useless are those who never change through the years.

Quotes by James M. Barrie

His lordship may compel us to be equal upstairs, but there will never be equality in the servants hall.

Quotes by James M. Barrie

We never understand how little we need in this world until we know the loss of it.

Quotes by James M. Barrie

Six years ago, I completed the premier episode of Hawaii Five-O, and Jack Lord and I immediately realized that we had a good series, that this was a success such as we'd never hoped for!

Quotes by James MacArthur

It is right to be contented with what we have, never with what we are.

Quotes by James Mackintosh

Men are never so good or so bad as their opinions.

Quotes by James Mackintosh

All the moves I've made have come after I sat down with my family and my agent and thought what was the best move. I've never rushed into something, never gone anywhere where I wasn't sure 100%.

Quotes by James Maddison

Coming on as a sub, it's always different - you never know what the game is going to be like.

Quotes by James Maddison

I was an 18-year-old lad playing in a Scottish League Cup final at Hampden in front of 60,000 against Celtic. That's an experience I will never forget.

Quotes by James Maddison

I always loved writing, but never considered that I could do it professionally.

Quotes by James L. Brooks

When I wrote a gay character, I spent six months asking questions I've never asked a gay friend, the questions you don't ask just because you don't have the right to do it.

Quotes by James L. Brooks

I just don't really think of career. I've never been driven by career.

Quotes by James Lapine

I never stood in a public house bar and alcoholic drink never touched my lips.

Quotes by James Larkin

The only thing an artist has to remember is to never lose faith in his vision.

Quotes by James Lee Burke

Never read bad stuff if you're an artist; it will impair your own game.

Quotes by James Lee Burke

When you find the right people, you never let go. The people who count are the ones who are your friends in lean times. You have all the friends you want when things are going well.

Quotes by James Lee Burke

There is a lot of work just in terms of traveling and logistics and people and gear and all that kind of stuff. But I never really have problems playing music. That never seems like work.

Quotes by James Iha

It's hard enough to make a good song and a good recording of that song. But to try to tailor it to some outside force is just like - It's never been a factor in what I've done or what...

Quotes by James Iha

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of quotes are gathered under "Never"?
These quotes explore things that haven't happened, aren't wanted, or weren't anticipated — unpublished books that never found a marketing angle, the idea that secrets are "never desirable" even when needed, and a reflection on how it "never occurred" to anyone that private conversation might need protecting.
Are these quotes mostly about regret?
Not exactly regret, more observation — noticing gaps, oversights, or things that didn't come to pass, like unpublished books or an unanticipated need for privacy protections.
Is there a quote about problem-solving here?
Yes — one notes that "people constantly face problems they've never seen before" and have to improvise solutions, which is a nice contrast to the other, more resigned quotes on this page.
How is "Never" different from <a href="/always-quotes">Always</a> quotes?
They're natural opposites — "Always" quotes are about consistency and long-held habits, while "Never" quotes are about absence, gaps, and things that haven't happened.
What should I read if I want something more upbeat?
Good quotes or Like quotes lean lighter, while "Never" quotes tend to be more contemplative. For a broader reflective read, Life quotes is also worth checking.

Other quotes touch on constitutional rights never explicitly written down, and the constant stream of new problems people have never faced before. See also Always Quotes and Good Quotes.