1980s

Explore 532 quotes from the 1980s

One of the meanings of human existence, the source of human freedom, is never to accept anything as definitive, untouchable, obvious, or immobile.

Michel Foucault

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Topic

Dogma Doubt and skepticism Freedom

Speaker

Michel Foucault

Source

Power, Moral Values and the Intellectual History of the Present

Medium

Interview

Language

French

Time

1980 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Foucault, Michel. "Power, Moral Values, and the Intellectual." Interviewed and translated by Michael Bess. History of the Present, Spring 1988.

I would like to inform all the intrepid Muslims in the world that the author of the book entitled The Satanic Verses, which has been compiled, printed and published in opposition to Islam, the Prophet and the Qur'an, as well as those publishers who were aware of its contents, have been declared madhur el dam-those whose blood must be shed. I call on all zealous Muslims to execute them quickly, wherever they find them, so that noone will dare to insult Islam again. Whoever is killed in this path will be regarded as a martyr.

Ayatollah Khomeini

More information about this quote

Topic

Fatwah Islamic extremism Islam

Speaker

Ayatollah Khomeini

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Farsi

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Khomeini, Ruhollah. Fatwa against Salman Rushdie. 14 Feb. 1989, Iran. Radio broadcast.

It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on earth has ever produced the expression "As pretty as an airport."

Douglas Adams

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

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Topic

Airports Travel Architecture

Author

Douglas Adams

Source

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

Medium

Novel

Genre

Detective fiction

Language

English

Time

1988 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Adams, Douglas. The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. William Heinemann, 1988, ch. 1.

All I can guarantee you is that as long as you are searching for happiness, you will remain unhappy.

U.G. Krishnamurti

More information about this quote

Topic

Seeking happiness Seeking Happiness Unhappiness

Author

U.G. Krishnamurti

Source

Mind is a Myth: Disquieting Conversations with the Man Call U. G. 1988

Medium

Interview

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

English

Time

1984 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Krishnamurti, U. G. Mind is a Myth: Disquieting Conversations with the Man Called U. G. Dinesh, 1988.

In the sunset of dissolution, everything is illuminated by the aura of nostalgia, even the guillotine.

Milan Kundera

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

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Topic

Nostalgia

Author

Milan Kundera

Source

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Medium

Novel

Language

Czech

Time

1984 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Kundera, Milan. L'insoutenable légèreté de l'être [The Unbearable Lightness of Being]. Gallimard, 1984.

Current Citation

Kundera, Milan. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, translated by Michael Henry Heim. Harper Perennial, 2009.

You must choose, but choose wisely for as the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

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Topic

Decisions and choices Life and death

Speaker

Grail Knight

Actor

Robert Eddison

Source

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Medium

Film

Genre

Action (film) Adventure (film) Action Adventure

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Lucasfilm Ltd., 1989.

None among us is superman enough to escape kitsch completely. No matter how we scorn it, kitsch is an integral part of the human condition.

Milan Kundera

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

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Topic

Kitsch

Author

Milan Kundera

Source

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Medium

Novel

Language

Czech

Time

1984 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Kundera, Milan. L'insoutenable légèreté de l'être [The Unbearable Lightness of Being]. Gallimard, 1984.

Current Citation

Kundera, Milan. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, translated by Michael Henry Heim. Harper Perennial, 2009.

I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that.

Lauren Bacall

Quoted in The Daily Telegraph

More information about this quote

Topic

Aging Life experience Life

Speaker

Lauren Bacall

Source

The Daily Telegraph

Medium

Newspaper

Language

English

Time

1988 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Bacall, Lauren. Quoted in The Daily Telegraph. 2 Mar. 1988.

That's why I don't have an ulcer, because I know when to say, "I don't give a fuck."

Lethal Weapon 2

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More information about this quote

Topic

Letting go Stress

Speaker

Tim Cavanaugh

Actor

Dean Norris

Source

Lethal Weapon 2

Medium

Film

Genre

Buddy movie Action (film) Action

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Lethal Weapon 2. Directed by Richard Donner, Warner Bros. Pictures/Silver Pictures, 1989.

Societies need to have one illness which becomes identified with evil, and attaches blame to its "victims".

Susan Sontag

More information about this quote

Topic

Scapegoats AIDS

Author

Susan Sontag

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Sontag, Susan. AIDS and its Metaphors. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1989, ch. 1.

Do you know how popular I am? I am so popular everybody loves me so much at this school.

The Breakfast Club

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Topic

Popularity High school

Speaker

Claire Standish

Actor

Molly Ringwald

Source

The Breakfast Club

Medium

Film

Genre

Teen (film) Coming of age (film) Teen Coming of age

Language

English

Time

1985 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Breakfast Club. Directed by John Hughes, A&M Films/Channel Productions, 1985.

It was one of those events which at a crucial stage in one's development arrive to challenge and stretch one to the limit of one's ability and beyond, so that thereafter one has a new standard by which to judge oneself.

Kazuo Ishiguro

The Remains of the Day

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Topic

Overcoming obstacles Personal growth

Author

Kazuo Ishiguro

Source

The Remains of the Day

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Ishiguro, Kazuo. The Remains of the Day. Faber & Faber, 1989.

Maybe you can't override prejudice overnight, but the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, ninety-odd years ago. I believe in gradualism. I also believe that ninety-odd years is pretty gradual.

Thurgood Marshall

More information about this quote

Topic

Civil rights Social progress Political progress Progress American politics

Speaker

Thurgood Marshall

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Marshall, Thurgood. "Fighting Back: 1957-1962." Eyes on the Prize, created by Henry Hampton, performances by Thurgood Marshall, season 1, episode 2, Blackside, 1987.

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again, but baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.

Field of Dreams

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Topic

Baseball

Speaker

Terence Mann

Actor

James Earl Jones

Source

Field of Dreams

Medium

Film

Genre

Sports (film) Drama (film) Sports Drama

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Field of Dreams. Directed by Phil Alden Robinson, Gordon Company, 1989.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.

Douglas Adams

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

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Topic

Things work out Unintended consequences Serendipity Good luck

Author

Douglas Adams

Source

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

Medium

Novel

Genre

Detective fiction

Language

English

Time

1988 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Adams, Douglas. The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. William Heinemann, 1988, ch. 13.

A company will get nowhere if all of the thinking is left to management.

Akio Morita

More information about this quote

Topic

Running a business Management Business

Author

Akio Morita

Source

Made in Japan

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

Japanese

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Morita, Akio and Edwin M. Reingold and Mitsuko Simomura. Made in Japan: Akio Morita and Sony. ‎E. P. Dutton, 1986.

Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog.

Roald Dahl

Matilda

More information about this quote

Topic

Going for it

Author

Roald Dahl

Source

Matilda

Medium

Novel

Genre

Children's literature

Language

English

Time

1988 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Dahl, Roald. Matilda. Viking Kestrel, 1988.

I want you to hold onto God's unchanging hand 'cause he helped Joshua fight the Battle of Jericho. Yes. He helped Daniel get out of the lion's den. He helped Gilligan get off the island!

Coming to America

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Topic

God's help God's protection

Speaker

Reverand Brown

Actor

Arsenio Hall

Source

Coming to America

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Comedy

Language

English

Time

1988 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Coming To America. Directed by John Landis, Eddie Murphy Productions, 1988.

In the long run, the public interest depends on private virtue.

James Q. Wilson

More information about this quote

Topic

Civic virtue Political theory

Author

James Q. Wilson

Source

The Rediscovery of Character: Private Virtue and Public Policy The Public Interest

Medium

Essay Magazine

Language

English

Time

1985 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Wilson, James Q. "The Rediscovery of Character: Private Virtue and Public Policy." The Public Interest, no. 81, Fall 1985.

Me? I’m scared of everything. I’m scared of what I saw, I’m scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.

Dirty Dancing

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Topic

Love and fear Fear Love

Speaker

Baby Houseman

Actor

Jennifer Grey

Source

Dirty Dancing

Medium

Film

Genre

Romantic drama (film) Romantic drama

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Dirty Dancing. Directed by Emile Ardolino, Great American Films Limited Partnership, 1987.