Quotes about a smile
page 3

Cassandra Clare photo
Emil Zátopek photo

“I was not talented enough to run and smile at the same time.”

Emil Zátopek (1922–2000) Czech Olympic long-distance runner

Attributed by Mike Rowbottom, "Olympic legend Zatopek dies aged 78", The Independent, 23 November 2000 (Independent Print Limited) http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/olympic-legend-zatopek-dies-aged-78-624343.html

Fernando Pessoa photo

“Ah, the freshness in the face of leaving a task undone!
To be remiss is to be positively out in the country!
What a refuge it is to be completely unreliable!
I can breathe easier now that the appointments are behind me.
I missed them all, through deliberate negligence,
Having waited for the urge to go, which I knew wouldn't come.
I'm free, and against organised, clothed society.
I'm naked and plunge into the water of my imagination.
It's too late to be at either of the two meetings where I should have been at the same time,
Deliberately at the same time…
No matter, I'll stay here dreaming verses and smiling in italics.
This spectator aspect of life is so amusing!
I can't even light the next cigarette… If it's an action,
It can wait for me, along with the others, in the non-meeting called life.”

Fernando Pessoa (1888–1935) Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, translator, publisher and philosopher

Ah a frescura na face de não cumprir um dever!
Faltar é positivamente estar no campo!
Que refúgio o não se poder ter confiança em nós!
Respiro melhor agora que passaram as horas dos encontros,
Faltei a todos, com uma deliberação do desleixo,
Fiquei esperando a vontade de ir para lá, que'eu saberia que não vinha.
Sou livre, contra a sociedade organizada e vestida.
Estou nu, e mergulho na água da minha imaginação.
E tarde para eu estar em qualquer dos dois pontos onde estaria à mesma hora,
Deliberadamente à mesma hora...
Está bem, ficarei aqui sonhando versos e sorrindo em itálico.
É tão engraçada esta parte assistente da vida!
Até não consigo acender o cigarro seguinte... Se é um gesto,
Fique com os outros, que me esperam, no desencontro que é a vida.
Álvaro de Campos (heteronym), "A Frescura" (1929), in Fernando Pessoa & Co: Selected Poems, trans. Richard Zenith (Grove Press, 1998)

Edgar Allan Poe photo
Henry Ward Beecher photo
H.P. Lovecraft photo

“Everything I loved had been dead for two centuries—or, as in the case of Graeco-Roman classicism, for two milenniums. I am never a part of anything around me—in everything I am an outsider. Should I find it possible to crawl backward through the Halls of Time to that age which is nearest my own fancy, I should doubtless be bawled out of the coffee-houses for heresy in religion, or else lampooned by John Dennis till I found refuge in the deep, silent Thames, that covers many another unfortunate. Yes, I seem to be a decided pessimist!—But pray do not think, gentlemen, that I am utterly forlorn and misanthropick creature. … Despite my solitary life, I have found infinite joy in books and writing, and am by far too much interested in the affairs of the world to quit the scene before Nature shall claim me. Though not a participant in the Business of life; I am, like the character of Addison and Steele, an impartial (or more or less impartial) Spectator, who finds not a little recreation in watching the antics of those strange and puny puppets called men. A sense of humour has helped me to endure existence; in fact, when all else fails, I never fail to extract a sarcastic smile from the contemplation of my own empty and egotistical career!”

H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) American author

Letter to "The Keicomolo"—Kleiner, Cole, and Moe (October 1916), in Selected Letters I, 1911-1924 edited by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei, p. 27
Non-Fiction, Letters

Victoria Beckham photo

“I think they have this impression that I'm this miserable cow who doesn't smile. But I'm actually quite the opposite … I'm going to try and smile more for America”

Victoria Beckham (1974) English businesswoman, fashion designer and singer

As quoted in Oh My Posh! Victoria Beckham's 10 Funniest Quotes http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20360923_10,00.html#20769957, People (magazine)

Christine de Pizan photo

“For what would I be otherwise but sport,
In love with one who does not care for me?
I will hide pain in smiles, sooner than be
The common talk. It is a bitter art
To sing a happy song with a sad heart.”

Car en mon cuer porte couvertement
Le dueil qui soit qui plus me puet desplaire,
Et si me fault, pour les gens faire taire,
Rire en plorant et très amerement
De triste cuer chanter joyeusement.
Rondeau "De triste cuer chanter joyeusement", line 8; Maurice Roy (ed.) Œuvres Poétiques de Christine de Pisan (1886) vol. 1, p. 154, as translated by http://www.brindin.com/pfpistri.htm by Sheenagh Pugh.

Georg Trakl photo
Taylor Swift photo
Samuel Taylor Coleridge photo
Frank Zappa photo

“Why should I smile when I'm sitting here with you?”

Frank Zappa (1940–1993) American musician, songwriter, composer, and record and film producer

To John Lofton
Crossfire debate on censorship (1986)

Kurt Vonnegut photo
Friedrich Schiller photo
Zack de la Rocha photo

“If ignorance is bliss, then knock the smile off my face.”

Zack de la Rocha (1970) American musician, poet rapper and activist best known as the vocalist and lyricist of rap metal band Rage Again…

"Settle for nothing".
Song lyrics, Rage Against the Machine (1992)

John Henry Newman photo

“And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since and lost awhile.”

John Henry Newman (1801–1890) English cleric and cardinal

The Pillar of the Cloud http://www.bartleby.com/236/75.html, st. 3 (1833).

Lewis Carroll photo
Edwin Arnold photo
Aleksandr Pushkin photo
Pavel Grachev photo

“These 18-year-old youths [Russian conscripts in Grozny] died for Russia, and they died with a smile.”

Pavel Grachev (1948–2012) Soviet generals

Vladimir Boxer, " Between Heaven and Earth: Human Rights and Politics in the Chechen War https://web.archive.org/web/20071208080814/http://www.ciaonet.org/conf/jfk04/jfk04ac.html", The Caucasus and the Caspian: 1996–1998 Seminar Series (July 10, 1998).

Lewis Carroll photo

“To Her, whose children's smiles fed the narrator's fancy and were his rich reward: from the Author.”

Lewis Carroll (1832–1898) English writer, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer

Inscribed in Mrs. Lorina Liddell's copy of Alice's Adventures Under Ground; quoted by Edward Wakeling http://www.wakeling.demon.co.uk/page3-real-lewiscarroll.htm

Rupert Brooke photo
Jon Bon Jovi photo

“You paint your smile on your lips.”

Jon Bon Jovi (1962) American singer and musician

Music, Slippery When Wet (1986)

Stephen Hawking photo

“On seeing the Enterprise's warp engine while visiting the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation (where he would briefly play himself in the 1993 episode Descent, Part I), Hawking smiled and said: I'm working on that.”

Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author

Quoted in The Star Trek Encyclopedia (1999) by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda, p. 185

Frederick Douglass photo

“I was standing in the crowd by the side of Mrs. Thomas J. Dorsey, when Mr. Lincoln touched Mr. Johnson, and pointed me out to him. The first expression which came to his face, and which I think was the true index of his heart, was one of bitter contempt and aversion. Seeing that I observed him, he tried to assume a more friendly appearance; but it was too late; it was useless to close the door when all within had been seen. His first glance was the frown of the man, the second was the bland and sickly smile of the demagogue. I turned to Mrs. Dorsey and said, 'Whatever Andrew Johnson may be, he certainly is no friend of our race'.”

Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman

Source: 1880s, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881), p. 355.
Context: On this inauguration day, while waiting for the opening of the ceremonies, I made a discovery in regard to the vice president — Andrew Johnson. There are moments in the lives of most men, when the doors of their souls are open, and unconsciously to themselves, their true characters may be read by the observant eye. It was at such an instant I caught a glimpse of the real nature of this man, which all subsequent developments proved true. I was standing in the crowd by the side of Mrs. Thomas J. Dorsey, when Mr. Lincoln touched Mr. Johnson, and pointed me out to him. The first expression which came to his face, and which I think was the true index of his heart, was one of bitter contempt and aversion. Seeing that I observed him, he tried to assume a more friendly appearance; but it was too late; it was useless to close the door when all within had been seen. His first glance was the frown of the man, the second was the bland and sickly smile of the demagogue. I turned to Mrs. Dorsey and said, 'Whatever Andrew Johnson may be, he certainly is no friend of our race'.

Swami Sivananda photo

“With a smile I faced all hardships.”

Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) Indian philosopher

As quoted by Swami Sadananda Saraswati in his Introduction to Autobiography of Swami Sivananda (2000 web edition) http://www.dlshq.org/download/autobio.htm
Context: The life of a mendicant during pilgrimages helped me to develop in a great measure forbearance, equal vision and a balanced mind in pleasure and pain. I met many Mahatmas and learnt wonderful lessons. On some days I had to go without food and walk mile after mile. With a smile I faced all hardships.

Thomas Paine photo

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.”

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) English and American political activist

The Crisis No. I.
1770s, The American Crisis (1776–1783)
Context: It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other. Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.

“It's sort of like a mockery in a way of reality because they think everything is smiles and sweetness and flowers when there is something bitter to taste. And to pretend there isn't is foolish.”

Edie Sedgwick (1943–1971) Socialite, actress, model

On the 60's flower children
Edie : Girl On Fire (2006)
Context: It's sort of like a mockery in a way of reality because they think everything is smiles and sweetness and flowers when there is something bitter to taste. And to pretend there isn't is foolish. I mean the ones that wonder around and know, at the same time, and yet wear flowers, and they deserve to wear flowers. And they've earned their smile... you can tell by people's eyes.

Mikhail Lermontov photo
Henri Barbusse photo

“The woman from the depths of her rags, a waif, a martyr — smiled. She must have a divine heart to be so tired and yet smile.”

Henri Barbusse (1873–1935) French novelist

The Inferno (1917), Ch. XVI
Context: The woman from the depths of her rags, a waif, a martyr — smiled. She must have a divine heart to be so tired and yet smile. She loved the sky, the light, which the unformed little being would love some day. She loved the chilly dawn, the sultry noontime, the dreamy evening. The child would grow up, a saviour, to give life to everything again. Starting at the dark bottom he would ascend the ladder and begin life over again, life, the only paradise there is, the bouquet of nature. He would make beauty beautiful. He would make eternity over again with his voice and his song. And clasping the new-born infant close, she looked at all the sunlight she had given the world. Her arms quivered like wings. She dreamed in words of fondling. She fascinated all the passersby that looked at her. And the setting sun bathed her neck and head in a rosy reflection. She was like a great rose that opens its heart to the whole world.

Thomas Mann photo

“Profundity must smile.”

Thomas Mann (1875–1955) German novelist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate

Source: The Beloved Returns (1939), Ch. 7

Arthur Miller photo

“He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine.”

Charley
Death of a Salesman (1949)
Context: Nobody dast blame this man. Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back — that's an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you're finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory.

Henri Barbusse photo

“I thought of all those wise men, poets, artists before me who had suffered, wept, and smiled on the road to truth.”

Henri Barbusse (1873–1935) French novelist

The Inferno (1917), Ch. XIV
Context: I thought of all those wise men, poets, artists before me who had suffered, wept, and smiled on the road to truth. I thought of the Latin poet who wished to reassure and console men by showing them truth as unveiled as a statue. A fragment of his prelude came to my mind, learned long ago, then dismissed and lost like almost everything that I had taken the pains to learn up till then. He said he kept watch in the serene nights to find the words, the poem in which to convey to men the ideas that would deliver them. For two thousand years men have always had to be reassured and consoled. For two thousand years I have had to be delivered. Nothing has changed the surface of things. The teachings of Christ have not changed the surface of things, and would not even if men had not ruined His teachings so that they can no longer follow them honestly. Will the great poet come who shall settle the boundaries of belief and render it eternal, the poet who will be, not a fool, not an ignorant orator, but a wise man, the great inexorable poet? I do not know, although the lofty words of the man who died in the boarding-house have given me a vague hope of his coming and the right to adore him already.

Adam Levine photo
Zakir Hussain (politician) photo
Zinedine Zidane photo

“Nobody knows if Zidane is an angel or demon. He smiles like Saint Teresa and grimaces like a serial killer.”

Zinedine Zidane (1972) French association football player and manager

Jean-Louis Murat, 2004 http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/apr/04/sport.features

James Baldwin photo

“She is smiling and her eyes are kind but now the smile is purely social”

Pt. 1, Ch. 3 - p.62
Giovanni's Room (1956)

James Clear photo
Matka Tereza photo

“Pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything. For I am only His – so He has every right over me. I am perfectly happy to be nobody even to God.”

Matka Tereza (1910–1997) Roman Catholic saint of Albanian origin

To the good God, nothing is little because He is so great and we so small- that is why He stoops down and takes the trouble to make those little things for us- to give us a chance to prove our love for Him.
Source: Knoansw, A Simple Path Quotes – The Inspiring Book Of Mother Teresa, September 03, 2020 https://knoansw.com/a-simple-path-quotes-mother-teresa/

Prevale photo

“I wish I could be the best smile you carry engraved inside your heart.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Vorrei poter essere il sorriso migliore che porti inciso dentro il tuo cuore.
Source: prevale.net

Kristi Yamaguchi photo

“The reward of putting a smile on a child’s face, who has to deal with so many challenges in life, is just beyond words. It's incredible.”

Kristi Yamaguchi (1971) American figure skater

"Kristi Yamaguchi: My Life After Figure Skating" in ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kristi-yamaguchi-life-figure-skating/story?id=29556805 (12 March 2015)

Bobby Heenan photo

“You know they say money can't buy happiness. Give me 50 bucks and watch me smile.”

Bobby Heenan (1944–2017) American professional wrestler, professional wrestling commentator and manager

Misc.

Kanye West photo
Neale Donald Walsch photo
Madeline Miller photo
Richelle Mead photo
Suzanne Collins photo
Sophie Kinsella photo
Emily Dickinson photo
Max Eastman photo

“A smile is the universal welcome.”

Max Eastman (1883–1969) American activist

Source: The Sense of Humor

Nora Roberts photo
Jim Morrison photo
Alyson Nöel photo
Richelle Mead photo
Joseph Addison photo

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”

Joseph Addison (1672–1719) politician, writer and playwright

This appears as an anonymous proverb in Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine Vol. XIII, (January - June 1883) edited by T. De Witt Talmage, and apparently only in recent years has it become attributed to Addison.
Disputed

Arundhati Roy photo
Shannon Hale photo
John Keats photo

“You are always new. The last of your kisses was ever the sweetest; the last smile the brightest; the last movement the gracefullest.”

John Keats (1795–1821) English Romantic poet

Letter to Fanny Brawne (March 1820)
Letters (1817–1820)

Sophie Kinsella photo
Kathy Reichs photo
Philip K. Dick photo
Cassandra Clare photo
Cormac McCarthy photo
Paulo Coelho photo
Sherrilyn Kenyon photo
Thich Nhat Hanh photo
Aldous Huxley photo

“A man can smile and smile and be a villain.”

Source: Brave New World

Markus Zusak photo
Gabriel García Márquez photo
Suzanne Collins photo
Christopher Isherwood photo
Mark Z. Danielewski photo
Cassandra Clare photo
Nicholas Sparks photo

“You might not believe it… but you make the world a better place when you smile.”

Variant: The world is a better place when you smile
Source: The Guardian

Laurell K. Hamilton photo
Holly Black photo
Emily Dickinson photo
Helen Oyeyemi photo
Ansel Adams photo
Suzanne Collins photo
Dan Brown photo
Winston S. Churchill photo
Brandon Sanderson photo