20th century

Explore 4282 quotes from the 20th century

We are not fighting for integration, nor are we fighting for separation. We are fighting for recognition as human beings. We are fighting for...human rights.

Malcolm X

More information about this quote

Topic

Civil rights

Speaker

Malcolm X

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1964 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Malcolm X. "The Black Revolution." Militant Labor Forum. 8 Apr. 1964, New York City, NY, USA.

Current Citation

Malcolm X. "The Black Revolution." Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements, edited by George Breitman. Grove Press, 1994.

To be a good soldier you must love the army. To be a good commander you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love.

Gettysburg

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Topic

The Army Military strategy The military

Speaker

General Robert E. Lee

Actor

Martin Sheen

Source

Gettysburg

Medium

Film

Genre

War (film) Epic (film) War Epic

Language

English

Time

1993 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Gettysburg. Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, Turner Pictures/TriStar Television/Esparza/Katz Productions, 1993.

In human relations kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths.

Graham Greene

The Heart of the Matter

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Topic

Kindness White lies

Author

Graham Greene

Source

The Heart of the Matter

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

English

Time

1948 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Greene, Graham. The Heart of the Matter. William Heinemann/The Viking Press, 1948, bk. 1, pt. 1, ch. 2, sec. 4.

You know everything is not an anecdote. You have to discriminate. You choose things that are funny or mildly amusing or interesting.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

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More information about this quote

Topic

Stories

Speaker

Neal Page

Actor

Steve Martin

Source

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Medium

Film

Genre

Road movie Comedy (film) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Directed by John Hughes, Hughes Entertainment, 1987.

Having found the bomb we have used it.

Harry Truman

More information about this quote

Topic

Nuclear weapons

Speaker

Harry Truman

Source

Report on the Potsdam Conference (Speech)

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1945 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Truman, Harry S. Radio Report to the American People on the Potsdam Conference. 9 Aug. 1945, Washington, DC, USA.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Leo Tolstoy

More information about this quote

Topic

Change starts at home Self-improvement Personal growth Change Progress

Author

Leo Tolstoy

Source

Three Methods of Reform

Medium

Essay

Language

Russian

Time

1900 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Tolstoy, Leo. "Three Methods of Reform." Pamphlets: Translated from the Russian. Free Age Press, 1900.

Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.

Thomas Edison

More information about this quote

Topic

Hard work Genius

Speaker

Thomas Edison

Source

Harper's Magazine

Medium

Interview Magazine

Language

English

Time

1932 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Edison, Thomas. Quoted in "Edison in His Laboratory" by Martin André Rosanoff. Harper's Monthly, Sept. 1932.

They always say that, and what does it matter? A village betrays us, a village is burned. The point's made.

Doctor Zhivago

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More information about this quote

Topic

Revolutionary politics Russian revolution

Speaker

Yuri Andreyevich Zhivago

Actor

Omar Sharif

Source

Doctor Zhivago

Medium

Film

Genre

Epic (film) Romantic drama (film) Epic Romantic drama

Language

English

Time

1965 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Doctor Zhivago. Directed by David Lean, Carlo Ponti Productions/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1965.

It is to be hoped that the normal balance of executive and legislative authority may be wholly equal, wholly adequate to meet the unprecedented task before us. But it may be that an unprecedented demand and need for undelayed action may call for temporary departure from that normal balance of public procedure.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

First Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Separation of powers American politics

Speaker

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Source

First Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1933 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1933, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "First Inaugral Address: Washington, DC, March 4, 1933." Great Speeches, edited by John Grafton. Dover, 1999.

Them Sicilians are famous for two things: Spaghetti and revenge.

Archie Bunker

All in the Family

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Topic

Sicily

Speaker

Archie Bunker

Source

All in the Family

Medium

TV program

Genre

Sitcom Comedy (TV) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1972 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

"Archie Sees a Mugging." All in the Family, written by Norman Lear and Phil Mishkin and Don Nicholl, directed by John Rich, season 2, episode 18, Tandem Productions, 1972.

It simply doesn't matter how you want to change things. You don't want them changed.

The Last Temptation of Christ

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More information about this quote

Topic

Resistance to change Change

Speaker

Pontius Pilate

Actor

David Bowie

Source

The Last Temptation of Christ

Medium

Film

Genre

Drama (film) Epic (film) Drama Epic

Language

English

Time

1988 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Last Temptation of Christ. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Universal Pictures/Cineplex Odeon Films/Testament Productions, 1988.

Alright, fine. You wanna be in a band? Fine. Go ahead. Play every night. Play three times a night! Don't just dick around the same coffee house for five years. Don't dick around with her or with me. I mean, try at something for once in your life. Do something about it, but you know what? You better do it now, and you better do it fast, because the world doesn't owe you any favors. And whether you know it or not, you're on the inside track to loserville, USA.

Reality Bites

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Topic

Going for it

Speaker

Lelaina Pierce

Actor

Winona Ryder

Source

Reality Bites

Medium

Film

Genre

Romantic comedy (film) Comedy drama (film) Romantic comedy Comedy drama

Language

English

Time

1994 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Reality Bites. Directed by Ben Stiller, Jersey Films, 1994.

Real art has the capacity to make us nervous.

Susan Sontag

Against Interpretation

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More information about this quote

Topic

Power of art Art

Author

Susan Sontag

Source

Against Interpretation

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1966 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Sontag, Susan "Against Interpretation." Against Interpretation. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1966.

Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where's it going to end?

Tom Stoppard

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

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More information about this quote

Topic

Eternity

Speaker

Rosencrantz

Author

Tom Stoppard

Source

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Medium

Play

Language

English

Time

1966 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. 24 Aug. 1966, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh, Scotland, act 2.

Current Citation

Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Grove Press, 2017, act 2.

I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if behind them they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

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More information about this quote

Topic

Common sense

Speaker

Jefferson Smith

Actor

Jimmy Stewart

Source

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Medium

Film

Genre

Political (film) Comedy drama (film) Political Comedy drama

Language

English

Time

1939 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Directed by Frank Capra, Columbia Pictures, 1939.

All warfare is based on deception. Sun Tzu. If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight, and if not, split and reevaluate.

Wall Street

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More information about this quote

Topic

Military strategy Enemies

Speaker

Bud Fox

Actor

Charlie Sheen

Source

Wall Street

Medium

Film

Genre

Drama (film) Drama

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Wall Street. Directed by Oliver Stone, American Entertainment Partners/American Films, 1987.

I could never find time for love. It's too heavy. It's an anchor that drowns a man. Besides, I got the sky, the smell of jet exhaust, my bike.

Hot Shots!

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More information about this quote

Topic

Avoiding love Love

Speaker

Topper Harley

Actor

Charlie Sheen

Source

Hot Shots!

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1991 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hot Shots. Directed by Jim Abrahams, 20th Century Fox, 1991.

People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise.

W. Somerset Maugham

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More information about this quote

Topic

Openness to criticism Criticism from others

Speaker

Glutton

Author

W. Somerset Maugham

Source

Of Human Bondage

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1915 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Maugham, William Somerset. Of Human Bondage. George H. Doran Company, 1915, ch. 50.

Current Citation

Maugham, William Somerset. Of Human Bondage. Signet, 2007, ch. 50.

If A is a success in life, then A equals X plus Y plus Z. Work is X; Y is play; and Z is keeping your mouth shut.

Albert Einstein

More information about this quote

Topic

Success

Speaker

Albert Einstein

Source

The Observer

Medium

Newspaper

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1950 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Einstein, Albert. The Observer. 15 Jan. 1950.

Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is.

Jackson Pollock

More information about this quote

Topic

Self-discovery Self-expression Artistic expression Painting Art

Speaker

Jackson Pollock

Source

Conversations with Artists: 35 American Painters, Sculptors and Architects Discuss Their Work and One Another with Selden Rodman

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Pollock, Jackson. Interviewed by Selden Rodman. c. 1956.