Quotes about anyone
page 8

“I've always said that Watership Down is not a book for children. I say: it's a book, and anyone who wants to read it can read it.”

Richard Adams (1920–2016) English novelist best known as the author of Watership Down

Children, Books, Reading

“Most of the Peacekeepers turn a blind eye to the few of us who hunt because they're as hungry as we are for fresh meat as anyone. In fact, they're among our best customers.”

Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games

Source: The Hunger Games

“Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.”

A.A. Milne (1882–1956) British author

Source: Not That It Matters

Money, Business

“Despair is the absolute extreme of self-love. It is reached when a person deliberately turns his back on all help from anyone else in order to taste the rotten luxury of knowing himself to be lost”

Thomas Merton (1915–1968) Priest and author

Love, Help, Personality, Despair

“Is there any point in public debate in a society where hardly anyone has been taught how to think, while millions have been taught what to think?”

Peter Hitchens (1951) author, journalist

Thinking

“it istrue that good can follow only from good and evil only from evil, but that often the opposite is true. Anyone who fails to see this is, indeed, a political infant.”

Max Weber (1864–1920) German sociologist, philosopher, and political economist

Source: From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology
Source: From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology (1946), p. 124; Essay "Politics as a vocation"
Context: The problem — the experience of the irrationality of the world — has been the driving force of all religious evolution. The Indian doctrine of karma, Persian dualism, the doctrine of original sin, predestination and the deus absconditus, all these have grown out of this experience. Also the early Christians knew full well the world is governed by demons and that he who lets himself in for politics, that is, for power and force as means, contracts with diabolical powers and for his action it is not true that good can follow only from good and evil only from evil, but that often the opposite is true. Anyone who fails to see this is, indeed, a political infant.

Evil

“We are not philosophers, we are sovereigns. The rules that govern our behavior are not the rules for other men, and our honor, I think, is a different thing entirely, difficult for anyone but the historians and the gods to judge.”

Megan Whalen Turner book A Conspiracy of Kings

Source: A Conspiracy of Kings

Men, God, Behavior, Thinking

“Words are more powerful than perhaps anyone suspects, and once deeply engraved in a child's mind, they are not easily eradicated.”

May Sarton (1912–1995) American poet, novelist, and memoirist

“All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings.”

Denis Diderot (1713–1784) French Enlightenment philosopher and encyclopædist

Feeling

“Mom told me, “It probably gets pretty lonely to be Grandma, don’t you think?” I told her, “It probably gets pretty lonely to be anyone.”

Jonathan Safran Foer book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Source: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Moms, Thinking, Grandma

“Like anyone nostalgic for a time he didn't live through, I chose to weed out the little inconveniences: polio, say, or the thought of eating stewed squirrel. The world was simply grander back then, somehow more civilized, and nicer to look at.”

David Sedaris When You Are Engulfed in Flames

Source: When You Are Engulfed in Flames

World, Time

“Are you seeing anyone romantically?" he inquired.
"No, I'm not," she replied.
"Good. Please keep it that way. Because I intend to ask you to marry me.”

Mitch Albom (1958) American author

Source: Have a Little Faith: a True Story

Way

“Goodness, my nose is enormous,' she exclaimed. 'Why didn't anyone tell me?”

Cassandra Clare book Clockwork Angel

Source: Clockwork Angel

“I am not the we of anyone”

J.M. Coetzee book Slow Man

Source: Slow Man

“What is good, Phædrus, and what is not good—need we ask anyone to tell us these things?”

Robert M. Pirsig book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Source: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974), Ch. 30
The quote is from section 258d of the dialogue Phædrus (tr. Benjamin Jowett).
Source: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
Context: A single thought begins to grow in his mind, extracted from something he read in the dialogue Phædrus. "And what is written well and what is written badly—need we ask Lysias, or any other poet or orator, who ever wrote or will write either a political or any other work, in metre or out of metre, poet or prose writer, to teach us this?"
What is good, Phædrus, and what is not good—need we ask anyone to tell us these things?

“Don't ever write anything you don't like yourself and if you do like it, don't take anyone's advice about changing it. They just don't know.”

Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) Novelist, screenwriter

Change

“Trapped for days, years, centuries maybe. Dead, but not allowed to die. Alive, but as good as dead. So alone that anyone, anything no matter how loathsome would be welcome.”

Suzanne Collins book Mockingjay

Source: Mockingjay

Dead

“Sometimes, the loneliness probably got to be too much and anyone seemed better than no one.”

Gena Showalter (1975) American writer

Source: Through the Zombie Glass

Loneliness

“Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not.”

Václav Havel book Disturbing the Peace

Source: Disturbing the Peace (1986), Ch. 2 : Writing for the Stage

“Personally, I'd rather grow old alone than in the company of anyone I've met so far. I don't experience myself as lonely, incomplete, or unfulfilled, but I don't talk about that much. It seems to piss people off--especially men. (Kinsey Millhone)”

Sue Grafton (1940–2017) American writer

Source: B is for Burglar

Men, People, Personality

“What I have achieved by industry and practice, anyone else with tolerable natural gift and ability can also achieve.”

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) German late baroque era composer

Nature

“Oh, how I regret not having worn a bikini for the entire year I was twenty-six. If anyone young is reading this, go, right this minute, put on a bikini, and don’t take it off until you’re thirty-four.”

Nora Ephron (1941–2012) Film director, author screenwriter

Nora Ephron: I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman, Random House Incorporated, 2008
Source: I Feel Bad about My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman

Reading

“Everyone always noticed Ashley. She was like a flashing neon sign for anyone with an ounce of testosterone.”

Nicholas Sparks book The Last Song

Source: The Last Song

“American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.”

James Baldwin (1924–1987) (1924-1987) writer from the United States

Beauty, History

“I simply want to live; to cause no evil to anyone but myself.”

Leo Tolstoy book War and Peace

Source: War and Peace

Evil

“It is the same way with dating. The time you are most prepared for dating is when you don't need anyone to complete you, fulfill you, or instill in you a sense of worth or purpose.”

Myles Munroe (1954–2014) Bahamian Evangelical Christian minister

Source: Waiting and Dating

Way, Sense, Time

“I've never seen anyone get so excited over books before. You'd think they were diamonds.”

Cassandra Clare book Clockwork Angel

Source: Clockwork Angel

Books, Thinking

“The queen's guards might have been the best of the best, but Dimitri… well, my former lover and instructor was in a category all his own. His fighting skills were beyond anyone else's, and he was using them all in defense of me.”

Richelle Mead book Spirit Bound

Variant: ... but Dimitri... well, my former lover and instructor was in a category all his own. His fighting skills were beyond anyone else's, and he was using them all in defense of me.
"Stay back," he ordered me. "They aren't laying a hand on you.
Source: Spirit Bound

Lovers, Fight

“My mind struggled to formulate a coherent though, any thought. I opened my mouth. "Your pajamas have Eeyore on them."

"I like Eeyore. He's sensible. A sober outlook on life never hurt anyone.”

Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo

Source: Gunmetal Magic

Life, Hurt

“You are an exceptional, talented, and brilliant young woman. Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you're less. Do not ever let anyone make you feel invisible.”

Richelle Mead Bloodlines

Source: Bloodlines

Feeling

“Anyone who said power was not addictive had never really experienced it.”

Dan Brown book Deception Point

Source: Deception Point

“[Gold] gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace. Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.”

Warren Buffett (1930) American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist

People

“Aubrey, crouching on a nearby counter, watched me with squinty eyes, apparently pondering why anyone would willingly immerse themselves in water ever, let alone for extended periods of time.”

Richelle Mead (1976) American writer

Source: Succubus Blues

Water, Time

“Why no. I’m too conceited. If you want to call it that. I don’t make
comparisons. I never think of myself in relation to anyone else. I just refuse
to measure myself as part of anything. I’m an utter egotist.”

Ayn Rand book The Fountainhead

Source: The Fountainhead

Thinking, Parting

“The Chairman likes you.”
“Is that good?”
“I never date anyone my cat doesn’t like,” Magnus said easily, and stood up.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

Cats

“Now I understand. When you love someone, you have to try things even if they don't make sense to anyone else.”

Gennifer Choldenko book Al Capone Does My Shirts

Source: Al Capone Does My Shirts

Love, Understanding, Sense

“She was incapable of love for any object not of her own choice and she resented anyone's demand for it.”

Ayn Rand book Atlas Shrugged

Source: Atlas Shrugged

Love

“He gave me a look sure to put frost on anyone's pumpkin.”

Charlaine Harris (1951) American writer

“If you don't want anyone to know about your existence, you might as well kill yourself. You're taking up space, air.”

Dave Eggers book A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Source: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

“Never call anyone a baboon unless you are sure of your facts.”

Will Cuppy (1884–1949) American writer

“And he respects Owl, because you can't help respecting anyone who can spell Tuesday, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count.”

A.A. Milne book The House at Pooh Corner

Source: The House at Pooh Corner (1928), Chapter Five - Rabbit, speaking of Christopher Robin.

Help

“Anyone who reads a book with a sense of obligation does not understand the art of reading.”

Lin Yutang book The Importance of Living

Source: The Importance of Living

Books, Art, Understanding, Sense

“Feelings are your guide. Trust your feelings and learn to express them, and do not blame anyone for how you feel. Be yourself, observe yourself. Look to understand any crisis you have been in or will be in.”

Barbara Marciniak (1928–2012)

Source: Family of Light: Pleiadian Tales and Lessons in Living

Feeling, Understanding, Learning

“Relationship Principle 5
Don't believe what anyone tells you about yourself.”

Sherry Argov (1977) American writer

Variant: Don't believe what anyone tells you about yourself.
Source: Why Men Marry Bitches: A Woman's Guide to Winning Her Man's Heart

“The Princess Bride
S. Morgenstern's
Classic Tale of True Love
and High Adventure

You had to admire a guy who called his own new book a classic before it was published and anyone had a chance to read it.”

William Goldman book The Princess Bride

Source: The Princess Bride

Love, Books, Guy, Chance

“There was a DJ who stayed up for eleven days straight, the longest recorded period of time anyone has ever gone without sleep, and he started playing nothing by Phil Collins, and that's how they knew it was time to call the ambulance.”

Meg Cabot (1967) Novelist

Sleep, Time

“Never let anyone shame you into doing anything you don't choose to do. Keep your identity.”

Jacqueline Susann book Valley of the Dolls

Source: Valley of the Dolls

“Many seek and never see,
anyone can tell them why.
O they weep and O they cry
and never take until they try
unless they try it in their sleep
and never some until they die.
I ask many, they ask me.
This is a great mystery.”

Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997) American poet

Source: Collected Poems 1947-1997

Sleep, Cry

“I didn't like anyone except me having their hands all over him. There had been possession in Wolf's touch, and Adam belonged to me.”

Patricia Briggs book River Marked

Source: River Marked

Wolf

“I attributed the incidence to temporary insanity, and in my own defense, I'd like to say I haven't run over anyone since.”

Janet Evanovich book One for the Money

Source: One for the Money

“The world in books seemed so much more alive to me than anything outside. I could see things I'd never seen before. Books and music were my best friends. I had a couple of good friends at school, but never met anyone I could really speak my heart to.”

Haruki Murakami book Sputnik Sweetheart

Source: Sputnik Sweetheart

Books, World, School, Music

“But you love her.”
Will stared at him. “Of course I do,” he
said finally. “I had come to think I would
never love anyone, but I love her.”

Cassandra Clare book Clockwork Prince

Source: Clockwork Prince

Love, Thinking

“Anyone who is considered funny will tell you, sometimes without even your asking, that deep inside they are very serious, neurotic, introspective people.”

Wendy Wasserstein (1950–2006) American playwright

People

“Anyone ever tell you you should be a lawyer? (Otto)
Only Bill when we argue. Besides, I like killing bloodsuckers too much to ever be one of them. Tabitha Deveraux. Pleased to meet you. (Tabitha)”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist

Source: Seize the Night

“In truth, the degree of anyone's success depends on how often they can say the word yes and hear the word no.”

Chuck Palahniuk book Tell-All

Source: Tell-All

Truth, Success, Dependency

“You're not half the male you could be because of what was done to you. You're twice what anyone else is because you survived.”

Jessica Bird (1969) U.S. novelist

Source: Lover Mine

“Anyone who knows how scary it is to be alone, can't help loving others." ~Rin Sohma”

Natsuki Takaya (1973) Manga artist

Source: Fruits Basket, Vol. 14

Love, Help

“I wasn't dating anyone. I was fornicating with Batman.”

Janet Evanovich Hard Eight

Source: Hard Eight

“Just friends, just friends. Standing there in the bookstore, watching Seth walk away, I half wondered how anyone could still use that line. But I knew why, of course. It was used because people still believed it. Or at least they wanted to.”

Richelle Mead (1976) American writer

Source: Succubus Blues

People

“Life is pain. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something.”

William Goldman book The Princess Bride

Variant: Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
Source: The Princess Bride

Wise, Life, Life, Pain

“Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.”

Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) American writer

Love, Life, Imagination

“I believe in only one thing: liberty; but I do not believe in liberty enough to want to force it upon anyone.”

H.L. Mencken (1880–1956) American journalist and writer

"Why Liberty?”, in the Chicago Tribune (30 January 1927)
1920s
Context: I believe that liberty is the only genuinely valuable thing that men have invented, at least in the field of government, in a thousand years. I believe that it is better to be free than to be not free, even when the former is dangerous and the latter safe. I believe that the finest qualities of man can flourish only in free air – that progress made under the shadow of the policeman’s club is false progress, and of no permanent value. I believe that any man who takes the liberty of another into his keeping is bound to become a tyrant, and that any man who yields up his liberty, in however slight the measure, is bound to become a slave.

“If you try to be anyone but yourself, you will fail; if you are not true to your own heart, you will fail. Then again, there's no success like failure”

Bob Dylan (1941) American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and artist

Failure, Success, Heart

“Simon: Anyone ever tell you your sense of timing really sucks?
Derek: That's why I don't play the drums. Now what's up?”

Kelley Armstrong book The Summoning

Source: The Summoning

Sense, Time

“The single biggest act of bravery or madness anyone can do is the act of change.”

Matt Haig (1975) British writer

Source: The Humans

Change, Madness

“When did you get all insightful?" he asked.
"I have no idea," Josh admitted.
"I don't like it."
"Me, either. Makes me feel like a girl. Don't tell anyone."

(Ethan and Josh)”

Susan Mallery (1950) American author

Source: Almost Perfect

Feeling, Girl, Idea

“In a place far away from anyone or anywhere, I drifted off for a moment.”

Haruki Murakami book The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Source: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

“You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing to climb a little.”

Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) American businessman and philanthropist

“We are all more intelligent than we are capable, and awareness of the insanity of love has never saved anyone from the disease.”

Alain de Botton (1969) Swiss writer

Source: On Love

Love, Disease, Intelligence

“How easy it is to invent a humanity, for anyone at all.”

Margaret Atwood book The Handmaid's Tale

Source: The Handmaid's Tale

“All the events of your past have formed a lens, or paradigm, through which you see the world. And since no one's past is exactly like anyone else's, no two people see alike.”

Sean Covey (1964) author; business executive

Source: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens: The Ultimate Teenage Success Guide

People, World, Past

“Who do you love?
It's a question anyone should be able to answer. A question that defines a life, creates a future, guides most minutes of one's days. Simple, elegant encompassing.
Who do you love?”

Lisa Gardner (1956) American author

Love, Life, Question, Future

“Anyone in the United States today who isn't paranoid must be crazy.”

Robert Anton Wilson book The Illuminati Papers

Source: The Illuminati Papers

“Anyone who loves in the expectation of being loved in return is wasting their time.”

Paulo Coelho book The Devil and Miss Prym

Source: The Devil and Miss Prym

Powerful, Love, Time

“She tortured everybody around her, but only because she was more tortured than anyone.”

Lev Grossman The Magicians

Source: The Magicians

“You are the only you… You are the best you. You will always be the second best anyone else.”

Leo Buscaglia (1924–1998) Motivational speaker, writer

“I don't even feel as if I'm the center of my own world, so how am I supposed to feel as though I'm the center of anyone else's?”

Nick Hornby book High Fidelity

Source: High Fidelity

World, Feeling

“You can never know anyone as completely as you want. But that’s okay, love is better.”

Caroline Paul (1963) American writer

Source: Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology

Love

“Qhuinn smiled, baring his fangs. 'Has anyone ever shown you the difference between good touch and bad touch? 'Cause I'd love to demonstrate. We could start right now.”

Jessica Bird book Lover Unbound

Source: Lover Unbound

Love, Smile

“Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.”

Tom Robbins (1932) American writer

Evil

“Gifts of the heart can't be claimed by anyone except the giver.”

Nicholas Sparks book The Wedding

Source: The Wedding

Heart

“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts too much when it ends. The first boy is ialways the hardest to get over, Haven. It's just the way the world works.”

Sarah Dessen book That Summer

Source: That Summer (1996)
Context: Maybe not, she said as we came to the car. But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts too much when it ends. The first boy is always the hardest to get over, Haven. It's just the way the world works.

Love, World, Way, Boy

“It was…the most difficult walk anyone ever had to make.
In every way, a walk to remember.”

Nicholas Sparks book A Walk to Remember

Landon Carter, Chapter 13, p. 237
Source: 1990s, A Walk to Remember (1999)

Way