Classic Literature Quotes
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The quotes span nearly 5,000 years from ancient Egypt to present day, mostly from notable literary and historical voices, but also from popular culture, science, psychology, religion, and politics. You will find quotes for all occasions.
“We are what we think, having become what we thought.”
–The Pali Canon (c. 500–c. 250 B.C.). Ten Twin Verses, no. 1
–The Pali Canon (c. 500–c. 250 B.C.). Ten Twin Verses, no. 1
May 17, 2025 at 5:21 PM
“We are what we think, having become what we thought.”
–The Pali Canon (c. 500–c. 250 B.C.). Ten Twin Verses, no. 1
–The Pali Canon (c. 500–c. 250 B.C.). Ten Twin Verses, no. 1
“I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was.”
–William Shakespeare (1564-1616), A Midsummer Night's Dream [1595-1596]
–William Shakespeare (1564-1616), A Midsummer Night's Dream [1595-1596]
May 16, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was.”
–William Shakespeare (1564-1616), A Midsummer Night's Dream [1595-1596]
–William Shakespeare (1564-1616), A Midsummer Night's Dream [1595-1596]
“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”
–Paulo Coelho (1944- ), The Alchemist [1988]
–Paulo Coelho (1944- ), The Alchemist [1988]
May 15, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”
–Paulo Coelho (1944- ), The Alchemist [1988]
–Paulo Coelho (1944- ), The Alchemist [1988]
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.
–Ann Taylor (1782-1866), My Mother [1816]
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.
–Ann Taylor (1782-1866), My Mother [1816]
May 11, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.
–Ann Taylor (1782-1866), My Mother [1816]
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.
–Ann Taylor (1782-1866), My Mother [1816]
“No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”
–Stanislaw Lec (1909-1966), More Unkempt Thoughts [1968]
–Stanislaw Lec (1909-1966), More Unkempt Thoughts [1968]
May 11, 2025 at 1:59 AM
“No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”
–Stanislaw Lec (1909-1966), More Unkempt Thoughts [1968]
–Stanislaw Lec (1909-1966), More Unkempt Thoughts [1968]
“I suspect the truth is that we are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us.”
–Khaled Hosseini (1965- ), And the Mountains Echoed [2013]
–Khaled Hosseini (1965- ), And the Mountains Echoed [2013]
May 9, 2025 at 11:58 PM
“I suspect the truth is that we are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us.”
–Khaled Hosseini (1965- ), And the Mountains Echoed [2013]
–Khaled Hosseini (1965- ), And the Mountains Echoed [2013]
UNLESS someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.
–Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), The Lorax [1971]
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.
–Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), The Lorax [1971]
May 8, 2025 at 6:36 PM
UNLESS someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.
–Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), The Lorax [1971]
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.
–Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), The Lorax [1971]
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
–Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Lady Windermere’s Fan [1892]
–Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Lady Windermere’s Fan [1892]
May 6, 2025 at 8:01 PM
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
–Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Lady Windermere’s Fan [1892]
–Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Lady Windermere’s Fan [1892]
“With my pencil, I wrote myself into being.” –Percival Everett (1956- ), James [2024]
May 6, 2025 at 1:52 AM
“With my pencil, I wrote myself into being.” –Percival Everett (1956- ), James [2024]
"what is only half-jokingly known as the Butterfly Effect—the notion that a butterfly stirring the air today in Peking can transform storm systems next month in New York."
–James Gleick (1954- ), Chaos [1987]
–James Gleick (1954- ), Chaos [1987]
May 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
"what is only half-jokingly known as the Butterfly Effect—the notion that a butterfly stirring the air today in Peking can transform storm systems next month in New York."
–James Gleick (1954- ), Chaos [1987]
–James Gleick (1954- ), Chaos [1987]
“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.”
–Carl Jung (1875-1961), Memories, Dreams, Reflections [1962]
–Carl Jung (1875-1961), Memories, Dreams, Reflections [1962]
May 4, 2025 at 5:22 PM
“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.”
–Carl Jung (1875-1961), Memories, Dreams, Reflections [1962]
–Carl Jung (1875-1961), Memories, Dreams, Reflections [1962]
I am what I am
I am made like that.
-Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), Paroles [1945]. Je Suis Comme Je Suis
I am made like that.
-Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), Paroles [1945]. Je Suis Comme Je Suis
May 3, 2025 at 2:32 AM
I am what I am
I am made like that.
-Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), Paroles [1945]. Je Suis Comme Je Suis
I am made like that.
-Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), Paroles [1945]. Je Suis Comme Je Suis
“A daydreamer is prepared for most things.”
–Joyce Carol Oates (1938- ), The Wheel of Love [1970]. Accomplished Desires
–Joyce Carol Oates (1938- ), The Wheel of Love [1970]. Accomplished Desires
May 2, 2025 at 6:29 PM
“A daydreamer is prepared for most things.”
–Joyce Carol Oates (1938- ), The Wheel of Love [1970]. Accomplished Desires
–Joyce Carol Oates (1938- ), The Wheel of Love [1970]. Accomplished Desires
“Let him think I am more man than I am and I will be so.”
–Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), The Old Man and the Sea [1952]
–Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), The Old Man and the Sea [1952]
May 1, 2025 at 1:52 AM
“Let him think I am more man than I am and I will be so.”
–Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), The Old Man and the Sea [1952]
–Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), The Old Man and the Sea [1952]
"I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip.”
–John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969), A Confederacy of Dunces [1980]
–John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969), A Confederacy of Dunces [1980]
April 29, 2025 at 2:57 AM
"I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip.”
–John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969), A Confederacy of Dunces [1980]
–John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969), A Confederacy of Dunces [1980]
[The tramp character:] "A tramp, a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow, always hopeful of romance and adventure."
–Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), My Autobiography [1964]
–Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), My Autobiography [1964]
April 28, 2025 at 12:55 AM
[The tramp character:] "A tramp, a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow, always hopeful of romance and adventure."
–Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), My Autobiography [1964]
–Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), My Autobiography [1964]
“everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
–Viktor Frankl (1905-1997), Man's Search for Meaning [1946]
–Viktor Frankl (1905-1997), Man's Search for Meaning [1946]
April 22, 2025 at 10:26 PM
“everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
–Viktor Frankl (1905-1997), Man's Search for Meaning [1946]
–Viktor Frankl (1905-1997), Man's Search for Meaning [1946]
They change their skies above them,
But not their hearts that roam.
–Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), The Native-Born [1895]
But not their hearts that roam.
–Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), The Native-Born [1895]
April 19, 2025 at 10:57 PM
They change their skies above them,
But not their hearts that roam.
–Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), The Native-Born [1895]
But not their hearts that roam.
–Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), The Native-Born [1895]
Change proves true on the day it is finished.
–I Ching (Twelfth century B.C.), No. 49 (translation by Thomas Cleary)
–I Ching (Twelfth century B.C.), No. 49 (translation by Thomas Cleary)
April 19, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Change proves true on the day it is finished.
–I Ching (Twelfth century B.C.), No. 49 (translation by Thomas Cleary)
–I Ching (Twelfth century B.C.), No. 49 (translation by Thomas Cleary)
"I looked at my life, and it was also a river."
–Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), Siddhartha [1922]
–Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), Siddhartha [1922]
April 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
"I looked at my life, and it was also a river."
–Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), Siddhartha [1922]
–Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), Siddhartha [1922]
Seize the day, put no trust in the morrow!
[Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero]
–Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65 BC-8 BC), Odes [23 BC]
[Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero]
–Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65 BC-8 BC), Odes [23 BC]
April 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Seize the day, put no trust in the morrow!
[Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero]
–Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65 BC-8 BC), Odes [23 BC]
[Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero]
–Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65 BC-8 BC), Odes [23 BC]
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
–Mary Shelley (1797-1851), Frankenstein [1818]
–Mary Shelley (1797-1851), Frankenstein [1818]
April 17, 2025 at 1:58 AM
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
–Mary Shelley (1797-1851), Frankenstein [1818]
–Mary Shelley (1797-1851), Frankenstein [1818]
The best way out is always through.
–Robert Frost (1874-1963), A Servant to Servants (1915)
–Robert Frost (1874-1963), A Servant to Servants (1915)
April 16, 2025 at 10:50 PM
The best way out is always through.
–Robert Frost (1874-1963), A Servant to Servants (1915)
–Robert Frost (1874-1963), A Servant to Servants (1915)
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
–Mary Oliver (1935-2019), The Summer Day [1990]
with your one wild and precious life?
–Mary Oliver (1935-2019), The Summer Day [1990]
April 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
–Mary Oliver (1935-2019), The Summer Day [1990]
with your one wild and precious life?
–Mary Oliver (1935-2019), The Summer Day [1990]
When you wish upon a star,
Makes no difference who you are,
Anything your heart desires will come to you.
–Ned Washington (1901-1976), Pinocchio [1940]. When You Wish Upon a Star
Makes no difference who you are,
Anything your heart desires will come to you.
–Ned Washington (1901-1976), Pinocchio [1940]. When You Wish Upon a Star
April 8, 2025 at 3:32 AM
When you wish upon a star,
Makes no difference who you are,
Anything your heart desires will come to you.
–Ned Washington (1901-1976), Pinocchio [1940]. When You Wish Upon a Star
Makes no difference who you are,
Anything your heart desires will come to you.
–Ned Washington (1901-1976), Pinocchio [1940]. When You Wish Upon a Star