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This page gathers quotes centered on absence and limits - books that stayed unpublished, and a pointed line arguing that secrecy is fundamentally undesirable, merely tolerated when unavoidable.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

Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

Quotes by Claud Cockburn

Never underestimate the effectiveness of a straight cash bribe.

Quotes by Claud Cockburn

To observe a profoundly stupid individual can be very enriching, and that's why we should never feel contempt for them.

Quotes by Claude Chabrol

I have never known so much naive conviction allied to greater intellectual poverty.

Quotes by Claude Levi-Strauss

I have never had a studio, and I do not understand shutting oneself up in a room. To draw, yes; to paint, no.

Quotes by Claude Monet

You can never get two members of the family to agree on anything.

Quotes by Claude Picasso

I'll never be rude to another news person. It's a tough job, a thankless job. You really have to get out there and grovel to get your story.

Quotes by Clarence Clemons

I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.

Quotes by Clarence Darrow

I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary notices I have read with pleasure.

Quotes by Clarence Darrow

The pursuit of truth will set you free; even if you never catch up with it.

Quotes by Clarence Darrow

The world is made up for the most part of morons and natural tyrants, sure of themselves, strong in their own opinions, never doubting anything.

Quotes by Clarence Darrow

When you have ambition, then it's never enough to win.

Quotes by Clarence Seedorf

Coming back to AC Milan was like I'd never been away, actually: you know everybody; everybody knows you.

Quotes by Clarence Seedorf

I would love to play in the Premier League; which player wouldn't? I am happy at AC Milan, but never say never.

Quotes by Clarence Seedorf

My coach never looked at me as a female fighter, but just as a fighter, as someone he was training. I had to work just as hard as the guys, or harder than them.

Quotes by Claressa Shields

There's nobody who loves being around actors working more than David Mamet, especially actors bringing his tremendous dialogue to life. I've never seen a movie director who was happier to be directing a movie than Dave.

Quotes by Clark Gregg

My tendencies are much more the Henry James thing, where we sit in silence at the table for three minutes, and our whole lives are changed because of a revelation that never quite happens but almost bubbles to the surface.

Quotes by Claire Messud

We think that we know people from this constellation of points: 'I know that story. I know that girl. I've heard that story a thousand times.' But actually, you never know that story.

Quotes by Claire Messud

I liked the idea of being from 'somewhere else.' I do think that's inherited. My father never had a fixed sense of where home was, and for my sister and me, it is much easier not to belong than to...

Quotes by Claire Messud

If I hear a story or a fact about somebody I don't know and have never met, it's like getting a hollow vessel that you can fill up with whatever you want. That's more tempting to me than to try...

Quotes by Claire Messud

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.