20th century

Explore 4282 quotes from the 20th century

It ain't never too hot or never too cold—for fuckin'!

Do the Right Thing

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Topic

Sex

Speaker

Sweet Dick Willie

Actor

Robin Harris

Source

Do the Right Thing

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy drama (film) Drama (film) Comedy drama Drama

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Do the Right Thing. Directed by Spike Lee, 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks, 1989.

They think that I can make friends if we move. Just move, everything will be roses and sunshine.

Rebel Without a Cause

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Topic

Grass is always greener Change of scenery

Speaker

Jim Stark

Actor

James Dean

Source

Rebel Without a Cause

Medium

Film

Genre

Drama (film) Drama

Language

English

Time

1955 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Rebel Without a Cause. Directed by Nicholas Ray, Warner Bros. Pictures, 1955.

Don't try to be a hero! You don't have to be a hero, not for me!

High Noon

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Topic

Heroes

Speaker

Amy Fowler Kane

Actor

Grace Kelly

Source

High Noon

Medium

Film

Genre

Western (film) Western

Language

English

Time

1952 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

High Noon. Directed by Fred Zinnemann, Stanley Kramer Productions, 1952.

It is completely unimportant... That is why it is so interesting.

Hercule Poirot

Quoted in The Murder of Rogers Ackroyd

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Topic

Clues

Speaker

Hercule Poirot

Author

Agatha Christie

Source

The Murder of Rogers Ackroyd

Medium

Novel

Genre

Detective fiction

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

English

Time

1926 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Christie, Agatha. "Who Killed Ackroyd?" London Evening News, July - Sept. 1925.

Current Citation

Christie, Agatha. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Vintage Books, 2022, ch. 7.

I can't believe this. They fucking forgot my birthday.

Sixteen Candles

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Topic

Birthday

Speaker

Samantha 'Sam' Baker

Actor

Molly Ringwald

Source

Sixteen Candles

Medium

Film

Genre

Coming of age (film) Comedy (film) Coming of age Comedy

Language

English

Time

1984 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Sixteen Candles. Directed by John Hughes, Universal Pictures/Channel Productions, 1984.

We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Second Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Topic

Unfettered capitalism Capitalism

Speaker

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1937 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1937, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Second Inaugral Address: Washington, DC, January 20, 1937." Great Speeches, edited by John Grafton. Dover, 1999.

Take me, I am the drug.

Salvador Dalí

More information about this quote

Topic

Power of art Drugs Art

Author

Salvador Dalí

Source

Dalí by Dalí

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Unclear

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Dalí, Salvador. Dalí by Dalí. Harry N. Abrams, 1970.

Anything different is good.

Groundhog Day

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Topic

Variety

Speaker

Phil

Actor

Bill Murray

Source

Groundhog Day

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Fantasy (film) Comedy Fantasy

Language

English

Time

1993 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Groundhog Day. Directed by Harold Ramis, Columbia Pictures, 1993.

There are only four ways in which a ruling class can fall from power. Either it is conquered from without, or it governs so inefficiently that the masses are stirred to revolt, or it allows a strong and discontented Middle group to come into being, or it loses its own self-confidence and willingness to govern. These causes do not operate singly, and as a rule all four of them are present in some degree. A ruling class which could guard against all of them would remain in power permanently. Ultimately the determining factor is the mental attitude of the ruling class itself.

George Orwell

Nineteen Eighty-Four

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Topic

Revolution Ruling class Political theory Politics

Author

George Orwell

Source

Nineteen Eighty-Four

Medium

Novel

Genre

Dystopian fiction

Language

English

Time

1949 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Secker & Warburg, 1949, pt. 2, ch. 9.

Intolerance of groups is often, strangely enough, exhibited more strongly against small differences than against fundamental ones.

Sigmund Freud

Moses and Monotheism

More information about this quote

Topic

Narcissism of small differences Group conflict

Author

Sigmund Freud

Source

Moses and Monotheism

Genre

Religious literature Historical literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

German

Time

1939 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Freud, Sigmund. Der Mann Moses und die monotheistische Religion [The Man Moses and the Monotheist Religion]. Hogarth Press, 1939, pt. 3.

Current Citation

Freud, Sigmund. Moses and Monotheism, translated by Katherine Jones. Vintage, 1955, pt. 3.

Look, I got a few good years left. If I want a Chip Ahoy, I’m having it.

Morty Seinfeld

Seinfeld

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Topic

Food Retirement

Speaker

Morty Seinfeld

Actor

Barney Martin

Source

Seinfeld

Medium

TV program

Genre

Sitcom Comedy (TV) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1996 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"The Cadillac." Seinfeld, written by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld and Alec Berg, directed by Andy Ackerman, season 7, episode 14, Shapiro/West Productions and Castle Rock Entertainment, 1996.

The history of men's opposition to women's emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself.

Virginia Woolf

A Room of One's Own

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Topic

Oppression of women Women's rights Men and women

Author

Virginia Woolf

Source

A Room of One's Own

Medium

Essay

Genre

Feminist literature

Language

English

Time

1929 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. Hogarth Press/Harcourt Brace & Co., 1929, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. Mariner Books, 2005, ch. 3.

It's all about the Benjamins, baby

P. Diddy

It's All About the Benjamins

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Topic

Love of money Money

Speaker

P. Diddy

Source

It's All About the Benjamins

Medium

Song

Genre

Hip hop

Language

English

Time

1997 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Sean Jacobs, et. al. "It's All About the Benjamins." Performed by Puff Daddy, Lil' Kim, the Lox, and the Notorious B.I.G. No Way Out. Bad Boy Records/Arista Records, 1997.

Roses are red, violets are blue, Jazz and I are black, but Carlton what are you?

Will Smith

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

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Topic

Acting white

Speaker

Will Smith

Actor

Will Smith

Source

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Medium

TV program

Genre

Sitcom Comedy (TV) Comedy

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1990 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"Def Poet's Society." The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, written by Benny Medina and Jeff Pollack and Andy Borowitz, directed by Jeff Melman, season 1, episode 7, The Stuffed Dog Company and Quincy Jones Entertainment and NBC Productions, 1990.

Genetic predispositions are only that: predispositions. It’s not a destiny written in stone. People have choices.

Dr. Jennifer Melfi

The Sopranos

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Topic

Free will vs. determinism Free will Determinism

Speaker

Dr. Jennifer Melfi

Actor

Lorraine Bracco

Source

The Sopranos

Medium

TV program

Genre

Crime (TV) Drama (TV) Crime Drama

Language

English

Time

1999 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"Down Neck." The Sopranos, written by David Chase and Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, directed by Lorraine Senna, season 1, episode 7, Chase Films and Home Box Office, 1999.

I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York's skyline.

Ayn Rand

The Fountainhead

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Topic

New York City

Speaker

Gail Wynand

Author

Ayn Rand

Source

The Fountainhead

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Wish

Language

English

Time

1943 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Rand, Ayn. The Fountainhead. Bobbs Merrill, 1943, pt. 3, ch. 4.

One day it started raining, and it didn’t quit for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin’ rain…and big ol’ fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways and sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. Shoot, it even rained at night.

Forrest Gump

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Topic

Rain Vietnam War Vietnam

Speaker

Forrest Gump

Actor

Tom Hanks

Source

Forrest Gump

Medium

Film

Genre

Drama (film) Drama

Language

English

Time

1994 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Forrest Gump. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, The Tisch Company, 1994.

That's when you say one thing and you're actually thinking about a mother.

Cheers

On Freudian slips.

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Topic

Freudian psychology

Speaker

Cliff Clavin

Actor

John Ratzenberger

Source

Cheers

Medium

TV program

Genre

Sitcom Comedy (TV) Comedy

Statement Type

Puns and wordplay

Language

English

Time

1992 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"Teaching with the Enemy." Cheers, written by Glen Charles and Les Charles and James Burrows, directed by James Burrows, season 11, episode 6, Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions and Paramount Television, 1992.

Memory, Agent Starling, is what I have instead of a view.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter

The Silence of the Lambs

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Topic

Memory Prison

Speaker

Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Actor

Anthony Hopkins

Source

The Silence of the Lambs

Medium

Film

Genre

Psychological horror (film) Thriller (film) Psychological horror Thriller

Language

English

Time

1991 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Silence of the Lambs. Directed by Jonathan Demme, Strong Heart Productions, 1991.

Have you always been this stuck up, or did it take, like, years of practice?

Will Smith

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

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Topic

Snobbery

Speaker

Will Smith

Actor

Will Smith

Source

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Medium

TV program

Genre

Sitcom Comedy (TV) Comedy

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1991 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"Love at First Fight." The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, written by Benny Medina and Jeff Pollack and Andy Borowitz, directed by Jeff Melman, season 1, episode 21, The Stuffed Dog Company and Quincy Jones Entertainment and NBC Productions, 1991.