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They Say Quotes

Most Famous They Say Quotes of All Time!

Several quotes here use the phrase "they say" to introduce hard-won wisdom, whether it is filmmakers explaining why speed beats over-analysis or a comparison to samurai discipline that leaves no room for flinching. Discover related sayings in Know quotes.

Everything that has a spare piano is 'like Satie' and everything with strings is 'filmic,' Sometimes I get annoyed when they say my stuff sounds 'like Satie'. No, it doesn't. At least, I don't think so.

Quotes by Agnes Obel

I don't know if English is the only language where some expressions only and solely mean the opposite of what they say but we do have an awful lot of them.

Quotes by A. A. Gill

When I saw that Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion, I was dumbfounded! Why would Google get into bed with thieves? They've built a huge audience on the backs of copyright holders - and then they say I have to...

Quotes by Zoey Tur

I'm kind of like a samurai. They say if you want to be a samurai, you can't be afraid of dying, and as soon as you flinch, you get your head cut off. I'm not afraid of losing this business.

Quotes by Yvon Chouinard

Always Quotes

The missile that downed the Malaysian plane, they say, is a Russian-made missile. But the weapons that are used in the barbarism in the barbaric act against the Palestinians were made by the West, and nobody is blaming them. Nobody...

Quotes by Yahya Jammeh

A lot of presidential memoirs, they say, are dull and self-serving. I hope mine is interesting and self-serving.

Quotes by William J. Clinton

They say I'm worth either €200 million, €100 million, €50 million or €10 million, but that's something between God, the HMRC and myself.

Quotes by Wilbur Smith

I've spoken with Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson, and they say the Premier League's the place to be. It's where I want to get to, and getting there with Palace would be nice.

Quotes by Wilfried Zaha

I have a few filmmaker friends who are known for shooting super-fast, and they say that you don't have the time to over-think things and how that helps things out creatively.

Quotes by Wes Ball

Good Quotes

When they say 'jazz,' I'm thinking of a word called 'the creative process.' It intersects every vein and tributary, avenue, path, that everyone's living. It crosses through there, but it's been contained.

Quotes by Wayne Shorter

The alt-right is working hard to cloak its desire to create chaos in the streets as free speech. They say they want to air their views, but it's about provoking violent reactions. We all can easily see that this is...

Quotes by W. Kamau Bell

I work for the UFC, and whoever they say I fight, I will.

Quotes by Vitor Belfort

They say depression is just anger turned inward. Sometimes I turn it outwards, sometimes I turn it inward, but I know it's about self-worth.

Quotes by Vic Mensa

'Fidaa' completely sticks to being a love story. It doesn't have any digressions. Opposites attract, they say.

Quotes by Varun Tej

Know Quotes

I hate when rappers do interviews. They say stuff like, 'If I wasn't doing this, I'd be dead or in jail.' Like, damn, those are the only two options? What about managing Kinkos?

Quotes by Tony Rock

They say poets write mostly for themselves; if anyone else likes it, well and good, if not, it doesn't matter; certainly, not to me.

Quotes by Tom Glazer

They say Einstein died while he was still trying to figure out gravity. I think I'm going to die still trying to figure out some of the things about Blink.

Quotes by Tom DeLonge

It's true what they say: that 'Star Wars' fans are the best.

Quotes by Tiya Sircar

They say I spend too much money, so they take it and put it away for me. What do I spend it on? Oh, old records and presents and things.

Quotes by Tiny Tim

Like Quotes

Customer service, they say, is dead. Actually, it isn't. It's just hiding behind a call center in Manila.

Quotes by Timothy Noah

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does this They Say quotes collection cover?
It gathers observations that reference common wisdom or received ideas, from how fast-shooting filmmakers describe the creative benefits of not overthinking, to a samurai-style philosophy about facing fear head-on. The phrase 'they say' works as a way of introducing a shared belief before agreeing, questioning, or complicating it.
Why do people search for quotes that start with 'they say'?
The phrase is a familiar way to introduce folk wisdom or industry lore, so people often search for it when they want to either validate or push back on a common belief. It also makes for a naturally quotable, conversational opening line.
Is there a quote here about creativity and speed?
Yes, one describes filmmaker friends known for shooting quickly, saying that not having time to overthink actually helps the creative process. It's a practical example of common wisdom being backed by real experience.
Does the collection include a business or industry-related critique?
One quote expresses disbelief at a major tech acquisition, questioning why a company would align itself with those seen as having built an audience on the backs of copyright holders. It's a sharper, more critical use of the 'they say' framing than the others in the set.
How are these quotes typically used?
They work well as conversation openers, captions that reference conventional wisdom, or reflections that either affirm or challenge a commonly held belief. The Know and Good collections offer related everyday wisdom.

Others use the phrase to question a popular narrative, such as a skeptical take on a huge tech acquisition built on other people's work. For more on shared beliefs and everyday wisdom, see Good quotes and Like quotes.