20th century

Explore 4282 quotes from the 20th century

This is a great and terrible world. I never knew there were so many men alive in it.

Rudyard Kipling

Kim

Buy Kim at Amazon Buy Kim at Amazon
Read Kim at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

The world

Speaker

Old Man (Kim)

Author

Rudyard Kipling

Source

Kim

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1901 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Kipling, Rudyard. "Kim." McClure's Magazine, Dec. 1900 - Oct. 1901.

Current Citation

Kipling, Rudyard. Kim, edited by Zohreh T. Sullivan. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002.

We are food for worms, lads...because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold, and die.

Dead Poets Society

Watch Dead Poets Society at Amazon Watch Dead Poets Society at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Carpe diem Death The human condition

Speaker

John Keating

Actor

Robin Williams

Source

Dead Poets Society

Medium

Film

Genre

Teen (film) Drama (film) Teen Drama

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Dead Poets Society. Directed by Peter Weir, Touchstone Pictures/Silver Screen Partners IV, 1989.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

Dr. Seuss

The Lorax

Buy The Lorax at Amazon Buy The Lorax at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Change starts at home Changing the world

Author

Dr. Seuss

Source

The Lorax

Genre

Children's literature

Language

English

Time

1971 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Seuss, Dr. The Lorax. Random House, 1971.

History is a relay of revolutions.

Saul Alinsky

Rules for Radicals

Buy Rules for Radicals at Amazon Buy Rules for Radicals at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

History Revolution Plus ça change

Author

Saul Alinsky

Source

Rules for Radicals

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1971 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Alinksy, Saul. Rules for the Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals. Random House, 1971.

You know the funny thing is, on the outside I was an honest man. Straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook.

Andy Dufresne

The Shawshank Redemption

Watch The Shawshank Redemption at Amazon Watch The Shawshank Redemption at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Prison

Speaker

Andy Dufresne

Actor

Tim Robbins

Source

The Shawshank Redemption

Medium

Film

Genre

Prison drama (film) Drama (film) Prison drama Drama

Statement Type

Irony

Language

English

Time

1994 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Shawshank Redemption. Directed by Frank Darabont, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1994.

I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death.

Nas

N.Y. State of Mind

Listen to N.Y. State of Mind at Amazon Listen to N.Y. State of Mind at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Sleep and death Sleep

Speaker

Nas

Source

N.Y. State of Mind Illmatic

Medium

Song

Genre

Hip hop

Language

English

Time

1994 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Nas and Chris Martin. "N.Y. State of Mind." Performed by Nas. Illmatic. Columbia Recordings, 1994.

In Eden the only wealth is nakedness and unawareness.

Carlos Fuentes

Buy a book containing this quote at Amazon Buy a book containing this quote at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Garden of Eden Wealth Nakedness Innocence

Author

Carlos Fuentes

Source

The Two Americas The Orange Tree

Medium

Short story

Language

Spanish

Time

1993 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Fuentes, Carlos. "Las does Americas [The Two Americas]." El Naranjo [The Orange Tree]. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1994.

To see your enemy and know him is part of the complete education of man.

Marcus Garvey

More information about this quote

Topic

Understanding one's enemy Enemies

Author

Marcus Garvey

Language

English

Time

1923 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Garvey, Marcus. Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey. Vol. 1, The Universal Publishing House, 1923, ch. 2.

That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep.

Willa Cather

My Antonia

Buy My Antonia at Amazon Buy My Antonia at Amazon
Read My Antonia at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Happiness Contentment

Author

Willa Cather

Source

My Antonia

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1918 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Cather, Willa. My Ántonia. Houghton Mifflin, 1918, bk. 1, ch. 2.

Current Citation

Cather, Willa. My Ántonia. W. W. Norton & Co., 2015, bk. 1, ch. 2.

I say hurl. If you blow chunks and she comes back, she's yours. But if you spew and she bolts, it was never meant to be.

Wayne Campbell

Wayne's World

Watch Wayne's World at Amazon Watch Wayne's World at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

True love

Speaker

Wayne Campbell

Actor

Mike Myers

Source

Wayne's World

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1992 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Wayne's World. Directed by Penelope Spheeris, Paramount Pictures, 1992.

I went to the crossroad,
fell down on my knees.
Asked the Lord above,
"Have mercy, save poor Bob if you please."

Robert Johnson

Cross Road Blues

Listen to Cross Road Blues at Amazon Listen to Cross Road Blues at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

God's mercy

Speaker

Robert Johnson

Source

Cross Road Blues

Medium

Song

Genre

Blues

Statement Type

Prayer

Language

English

Time

1937 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Johnson, Robert. Cross Road Blues. Vocalion Records, 1937.

Fuck! Even in the future nothing works.

Spaceballs

Watch Spaceballs at Amazon Watch Spaceballs at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Dystopian future The future

Speaker

Dark Helmet

Actor

Rick Moranis

Source

Spaceballs

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (fim) Science fiction (film) Comedy Science fiction

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Spaceballs. Directed by Mel Brooks, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Brooksfilms/Industrial Light & Magic, 1987

Love is nothing but lust and cheating and lies.

The Seventh Seal

Watch The Seventh Seal at Amazon Watch The Seventh Seal at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of love Love

Speaker

Jöns

Actor

Gunnar Björnstrand

Source

The Seventh Seal

Medium

Film

Genre

Fantasy drama (film) Drama (film) Fantasy drama Drama

Language

Swedish

Time

1957 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Det sjunde inseglet [The Seventh Seal]. Directed by Ingmar Bergman, Svensk Filmindustri, 1957.

We have an old saying in Delta: don't get mad, get even.

Animal House

Watch Animal House at Amazon Watch Animal House at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Revenge

Speaker

Daniel Simpson "D-Day" Day

Actor

Bruce McGill

Source

Animal House

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1978 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Animal House. Directed by John Landis, Universal Pictures, 1978.

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. They must, they have no other models.

James Baldwin

More information about this quote

Topic

Parents and children

Author

James Baldwin

Source

Fifth Avenue, Uptown; A Letter from Harlem Esquire

Medium

Essay Magazine

Language

English

Time

1960 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Baldwin, James. "Fifth Avenue, Uptown; A Letter from Harlem." Esquire, July 1960.

Always look on the bright side of life.

Monty Python's Life of Brian

Watch Monty Python's Life of Brian at Amazon Watch Monty Python's Life of Brian at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

The bright side Optimism

Speaker

Lead Singer Crucifee 

Actor

Eric Idle

Source

Monty Python's Life of Brian

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1979 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Monty Python's Life of Brian. Directed by Terry Jones, Handmade Films/Python (Monty) Pictures, 1979.

This will not stand. This will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait.

George H.W. Bush

Press Conference, August 5, 1990

On Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

More information about this quote

Topic

Persian Gulf War American politics International politics

Speaker

George H.W. Bush

Source

Press Conference, August 5, 1990

Medium

Press conference

Language

English

Time

1990 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Bush, George H. W. Remark during news conference about the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. 5 Aug. 1990, South Lawn of the White House, Washington, DC, USA.

Remember those posters that said, 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life'? Well, that's true of every day except one, the day you die.

American Beauty

Watch American Beauty at Amazon Watch American Beauty at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Living life to the fullest Life

Speaker

Lester Burnham

Actor

Kevin Spacey

Source

American Beauty

Medium

Film

Genre

Black comedy (film) Comedy drama (film) Black comedy Comedy drama

Language

English

Time

1999 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

American Beauty. Directed by Sam Mendes, Jinks/Cohen Company, 1999.

Ooh, child, things are gonna get easier
Ooh child, things'll get brighter.

The Five Stairsteps

Ooh Child (song)

Listen to Ooh Child at Amazon Listen to Ooh Child at Amazon
Read the lyrics to Ooh Child at genius.com

More information about this quote

Topic

Social progress Things get better Optimism Progress

Speaker

The Five Stairsteps

Source

Ooh Child (song) Step by Step by Step

Medium

Song

Genre

Soul music

Statement Type

Prophecies and predictions

Language

English

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Vincent, Stan. "O-o-h Child." Performed by Five Stairsteps. Stairsteps. Buddah Records, 1970.

We're the party that wants to see an America in which people can still get rich.

Ronald Reagan

More information about this quote

Topic

Republicans American politics

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1982 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. Remark at Republican congressional dinner. Salute to President Ronald Reagan Dinner. 4 May 1982, Washington, DC, USA.