20th century

Explore 4282 quotes from the 20th century

I’m a great quitter. It’s one of the few things I do well. I come from a long line of quitters.

George Costanza

Seinfeld

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Topic

Quitting Giving up

Speaker

George Costanza

Actor

Jason Alexander

Source

Seinfeld

Medium

TV program

Genre

Sitcom Comedy (TV) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1993 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

"The Old Man." Seinfeld, written by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld and Larry Charles, directed by Tom Cherones, season 4, episode 18, Shapiro/West Productions and Castle Rock Entertainment, 1993.

Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand.

Cool Hand Luke

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Topic

Bluffing Making the most Gambling

Speaker

Luke

Actor

Paul Newman

Source

Cool Hand Luke

Medium

Film

Genre

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

Language

English

Time

1967 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Cool Hand Luke. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, Jalem Productions, 1967.

An evil empire.

Ronald Reagan

On the Soviet Union.

More information about this quote

Topic

Soviet Union Cold War

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1983 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. "The Evil Empire." National Association of Evangelicals. 8 Mar. 1983, Sheraton Twin Towers Hotel, Orlando, FL, USA.

Tale as old as time, true as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly.

Beauty and the Beast

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Topic

Falling in love

Speaker

Mrs. Potts

Actor

Angela Lansbury

Source

Beauty and the Beast

Medium

Film

Genre

Animation (film) Musical (film) Animation Musical

Language

English

Time

1991 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Beauty and the Beast. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, Walt Disney Pictures/Walt Disney Feature Animation/Silver Screen Partners IV, 1991.

It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is.

Bill Clinton

More information about this quote

Topic

Meaning of words

Speaker

Bill Clinton

Language

English

Time

1998 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Clinton, Bill. Grand jury testimony. Office of Independent Counsel. 17 Aug. 1998, Washington, DC, USA.

Ich bin ein Berliner.

John F. Kennedy

More information about this quote

Topic

Interconnectedness of all people Cold War Foreign policy International politics

Speaker

John F. Kennedy

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

German

Time

1963 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Kennedy, John F. "Ich bin ein Berliner." 26 June 1963, Rathaus Schoneberg, Berlin, Germany.

The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for and deserted by everybody.

Mother Teresa

More information about this quote

Topic

Isolation Loneliness

Speaker

Mother Teresa

Language

English

Time

1971 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Mother Teresa. Quoted in Do Something Beautiful for God, written by Malcolm Muggeridge. Harper Collins, 1971.

I'm melting, melting! Oh, what a world, what a world! Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness?

The Wizard of Oz

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Topic

Dying

Speaker

Wicked Witch of the West

Actor

Margaret Hamilton

Source

The Wizard of Oz

Medium

Film

Genre

Fantasy (film) Musical (film) Fantasy Musical

Language

English

Time

1939 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Victor Fleming. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1939.

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?...
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Bob Dylan

Blowin' in the Wind

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Speaker

Bob Dylan

Source

Blowin' in the Wind The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Medium

Song

Genre

Folk music

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1963 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Dylan, Bob. "Blowin' in the Wind." The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. Columbia Records, 1963.

Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.

Andy Dufresne

The Shawshank Redemption

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Topic

Living life to the fullest Giving up Decisions and choices

Speaker

Andy Dufresne

Actor

Tim Robbins

Source

The Shawshank Redemption

Medium

Film

Genre

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

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1994 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

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

Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.

Albert Camus

The Rebel

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Topic

Human nature Being oneself Authenticity The human condition

Author

Albert Camus

Source

The Rebel

Genre

Political literature

Language

French

Time

1951 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Camus, Albert. L'Homme Revolte [The Rebel]. Gallimard, 1951.

Yeah, that's what she said.

Wayne Campbell

Wayne's World

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Speaker

Wayne Campbell

Actor

Mike Myers

Source

Wayne's World

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Comedy

Statement Type

Sexual innuendo

Language

English

Time

1992 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

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

What is a rebel? A man who says no.

Albert Camus

The Rebel

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Topic

Rebellion Revolution

Author

Albert Camus

Source

The Rebel

Medium

Essay

Genre

Philosophical literature Political literature

Language

French

Time

1951 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Camus, Albert. L'Homme Revolte [The Rebel]. Gallimard, 1951.

Love means never having to say you're sorry.

Love Story

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Topic

Nature of love Love Apologies

Speaker

Jenny

Actor

Ali MacGraw

Source

Love Story

Medium

Film

Genre

Romantic drama (film) Drama (film) Romantic drama Drama

Language

English

Time

1970 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Love Story. Directed by Arthur Hiller, Paramount Pictures/Love Story Company, 1970.

A house is a machine for living in.

Le Corbusier

Toward an Architecture

More information about this quote

Topic

Houses Home Architecture

Author

Le Corbusier

Source

Toward an Architecture

Medium

Essay

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

French

Time

1923 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Corbusier, Le. Vers une Architecture. Editions G. Crès et Cie., 1923.

Current Citation

Corbusier, Le. Toward an Architecture. Getty Research Institute, 2007.

Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know; that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it!

Col. Nathan R. Jessep

A Few Good Men

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Topic

Defending freedom Dangerous world

Speaker

Col. Nathan R. Jessep

Actor

Jack Nicholson

Source

A Few Good Men

Medium

Film

Genre

Courtroom drama (film) Drama (film) Courtroom drama Drama

Language

English

Time

1992 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

A Few Good Men. Directed by Rob Reiner, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1992.

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen.

The Rock

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Topic

Winners and losers Winners Losers

Speaker

John Patrick Mason

Actor

Sean Connery

Source

The Rock

Medium

Film

Genre

Action (film) Thriller (film) Action Thriller

Language

English

Time

1996 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Rock. Directed by Michael Bay, Hollywood Pictures/Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films, 1996.

You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it.

On the Waterfront

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More information about this quote

Topic

Missed opportunities Regrets

Speaker

Terry Malloy

Actor

Marlon Brando

Source

On the Waterfront

Medium

Film

Genre

Crime (film) Drama (film) Crime Drama

Language

English

Time

1954 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

On the Waterfront. Directed by Elia Kazan, Horizon Pictures, 1954.

Hello. My name is Iñigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Iñigo Montoya

The Princess Bride

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Topic

Revenge

Speaker

Iñigo Montoya

Actor

Mandy Patinkin

Source

The Princess Bride

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Fantasy (film) Comedy Fantasy

Statement Type

Introduction Threat

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Princess Bride. Directed by Rob Reiner, Act III Communications/Buttercup Films/The Princess Bride Ltd., 1987.

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

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Topic

Limits of language Language

Author

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Source

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

German

Time

1921 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Wittgenstein, Ludwig. "Logisch-Philosophische Abhandlung [Logical-Philosophical Treatise]." Annalen der Naturphilosophie [Annales of Natural Philosophy], 1921.

Current Citation

Wittgenstein, Ludwig. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, translated by Michael Beaney. Oxford University Press, 2023.