First Quotes | Beyond Motive

top of page

First Quotes

"I am a teacher, and I am proud of it. At Cornell University I have taught primarily undergraduates, and indeed almost every year since 1966 have taught first-year general chemistry."

"I am a teacher, and I am proud of it. At Cornell University I have taught primarily undergraduates, and indeed almost every year since 1966 have taught first-year general chemistry."

Roald Hoffmann, Polish Scientist

First, University

97

"I am 73 years old. I was born in Jerusalem. I'm the first prime minister of Israel to be born here. I am the only former general to become a prime minister."

"I am 73 years old. I was born in Jerusalem. I'm the first prime minister of Israel to be born here. I am the only former general to become a prime minister."

Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli Statesman

First, Israel, Old, Years

80

"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone."

"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone."

Jesus Christ, Jewish Clergyman

60

"Tea is nought but this: first you heat the water, then you make the tea. Then you drink it properly. That is all you need to know."

"Tea is nought but this: first you heat the water, then you make the tea. Then you drink it properly. That is all you need to know."

Sen Rikyu, Japanese Celebrity

First, Tea, Water

55

"And, he'd seen me in Panama, and he talked about maybe doing something in New York so I hooked it up when I came here and I recorded in 1969 my first album with Pete Rodriguez."

"And, he'd seen me in Panama, and he talked about maybe doing something in New York so I hooked it up when I came here and I recorded in 1969 my first album with Pete Rodriguez."

Ruben Blades, Panamanian Musician

54

"The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts."

"The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts."

Paul R. Ehrlich, American Scientist

53

"Guess what, I might be the first hippie pinup girl."

"Guess what, I might be the first hippie pinup girl."

Janis Joplin, American Musician

51

"The Passion narratives are the first pieces of the Gospels that were composed as a unity."

"The Passion narratives are the first pieces of the Gospels that were composed as a unity."

Hans Urs von Balthasar, Swiss Theologian

First, Passion, Unity

48

"The problems with First Ladies is that you have to set the standard. My role is to be both star and slave."

"The problems with First Ladies is that you have to set the standard. My role is to be both star and slave."

Imelda Marcos, Filipino Celebrity

First, Ladies, Problems

47

"First of all, I can't really claim to be a great chef."

"First of all, I can't really claim to be a great chef."

Martin Yan, Chinese Celebrity

46

"First of all, you look at Rocky films now, and if that isn't a cartoon series there isn't any cartoon series. I mean there's no way anybody is going to take that amount of punishment in fifteen rounds."

"First of all, you look at Rocky films now, and if that isn't a cartoon series there isn't any cartoon series. I mean there's no way anybody is going to take that amount of punishment in fifteen rounds."

Charles S. Dutton, American Actor

First, Now, Punishment

46

"The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."

"The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."

Margaret Young, American Musician

First, Order, Want

45

"I was terrified. My first week, walking around in a teeny bikini, I kept crossing my arms over my chest because I was afraid I was going to fall out of the top of the suit. And I didn't know anything about technique or lighting."

"I was terrified. My first week, walking around in a teeny bikini, I kept crossing my arms over my chest because I was afraid I was going to fall out of the top of the suit. And I didn't know anything about technique or lighting."

Mary Crosby, American Actress

41

"First, I was Bavarian State Minister of Justice, and after the ministries of justice in the various states were dissolved I became Reich Minister without portfolio."

"First, I was Bavarian State Minister of Justice, and after the ministries of justice in the various states were dissolved I became Reich Minister without portfolio."

Hans Frank, German Public Servant

First, Justice, State, states

40

"Newman's first law: It is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down."

"Newman's first law: It is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down."

Paul Newman, American Actor

39

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool."

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool."

Richard P. Feynman, American Physicist

38

"I think the first thing I did was several scenes from Romeo and Juliet."

"I think the first thing I did was several scenes from Romeo and Juliet."

Sally Field, American Actress

38

"The first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine."

"The first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine."

William Osler, Canadian Scientist

First, Medicine

38

"But then there was Hendrix, man. Jimi was really the last cat to freak me. Jimi was playing all the stuff I had in my head. I couldn't believe it, when I first heard him. Man, no one can ever do what he did with a guitar. No one can ever take his place."

"But then there was Hendrix, man. Jimi was really the last cat to freak me. Jimi was playing all the stuff I had in my head. I couldn't believe it, when I first heard him. Man, no one can ever do what he did with a guitar. No one can ever take his place."

Terry Kath, American Musician

First, Guitar, Man

35

"Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be first."

"Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be first."

Pearl Bailey, American Actress

34

"I want to get an handful of spare basses to use first of all if mine breaks, and second, to learn some things about aspects of basses that I like, so Paul can build those aspects into it."

"I want to get an handful of spare basses to use first of all if mine breaks, and second, to learn some things about aspects of basses that I like, so Paul can build those aspects into it."

Mike Gordon, American Musician

34

"After Versace was murdered, the first person to call me was Mandela."

"After Versace was murdered, the first person to call me was Mandela."

Naomi Campbell, British Model

34

"As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two."

"As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two."

Norman Wisdom, English Comedian

33

"In my first movie, That Night, with Juliette Lewis, I had a scene with two other girls where we applied a cream to our chests to make our breasts grow. I was 10."

"In my first movie, That Night, with Juliette Lewis, I had a scene with two other girls where we applied a cream to our chests to make our breasts grow. I was 10."

Eliza Dushku, American Actress

First, Girls, Night

32

"Such a structure would also raise a number of problems: first of all, which Timorese to pay compensation to? It would open a can of worms in terms of who was really a victim and who was not."

"Such a structure would also raise a number of problems: first of all, which Timorese to pay compensation to? It would open a can of worms in terms of who was really a victim and who was not."

Jose Ramos Horta, East Timorese Politician

31

"My first few plays took place in the South and even The Lucky Spot was in the thirties but in Louisiana."

"My first few plays took place in the South and even The Lucky Spot was in the thirties but in Louisiana."

Beth Henley, American Playwright

29

"But even after the first week, when Hart got out of the presidential race because of the Washington Post's threat to reveal a long-term relationship Hart had apparently been having with a prominent Washington woman, the media continued to embellish my past."

"But even after the first week, when Hart got out of the presidential race because of the Washington Post's threat to reveal a long-term relationship Hart had apparently been having with a prominent Washington woman, the media continued to embellish my past."

Donna Rice, American Celebrity

First, Media, Past, Post

29

"If I were to awaken after having slept for a thousand years, my first question would be: Has the Riemann hypothesis been proven?"

"If I were to awaken after having slept for a thousand years, my first question would be: Has the Riemann hypothesis been proven?"

David Hilbert, German Mathematician

First, Question, Years

29

"If you think there are no new frontiers, watch a boy ring the front doorbell on his first date."

"If you think there are no new frontiers, watch a boy ring the front doorbell on his first date."

Olin Miller, American Columnist

28

"Once you get over the first hill, there is always a new, higher one lurking, of course."

"Once you get over the first hill, there is always a new, higher one lurking, of course."

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Finnish Musician

27

"Tired minds don't plan well. Sleep first, plan later."

"Tired minds don't plan well. Sleep first, plan later."

Walter Reisch, Austrian Scientist

27

"First there was racism. Then liberals created institutional racism and coded racism. You can only hear it with a dog whistle."

"First there was racism. Then liberals created institutional racism and coded racism. You can only hear it with a dog whistle."

Evan Sayet, American Comedian

First, Liberals, Racism

27

"I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan."

"I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan."

Jackie Chan, Chinese Actor

27

"The first role I ever did... I played a Nazi skinhead."

"The first role I ever did... I played a Nazi skinhead."

Tim Roth, British Actor

27

"Whenever I felt happy about having discovered something, the first encounter, not only with the public, with other musicians, with specialists, etc, was that they rejected it."

"Whenever I felt happy about having discovered something, the first encounter, not only with the public, with other musicians, with specialists, etc, was that they rejected it."

Karlheinz Stockhausen, German Composer

First, Musicians, Public

26

"You see the images that the public is demanding. Why more reality-based TV? You'd think that after the first Survivor it would have gone away, but it hasn't. The public demands it because they get all caught up in the personal stories, and want to see more and more."

"You see the images that the public is demanding. Why more reality-based TV? You'd think that after the first Survivor it would have gone away, but it hasn't. The public demands it because they get all caught up in the personal stories, and want to see more and more."

Montel Williams, American Entertainer

First, Public, Reality, Want

26

"My mum says, 'Go with your first instinct,' but this can lead to impulse buying!"

"My mum says, 'Go with your first instinct,' but this can lead to impulse buying!"

Lindsay Lohan, American Actress

First, Instinct

26

"The pious ones of Plymouth who, reaching the Rock, first fell upon their own knees and then upon the aborigines."

"The pious ones of Plymouth who, reaching the Rock, first fell upon their own knees and then upon the aborigines."

William M. Evarts, American Lawyer

25

"Well, first of all I'll say that I come alive best in theater."

"Well, first of all I'll say that I come alive best in theater."

Wole Soyinka, Nigerian Dramatist

25

"I had not seen that until - and when it first came out I was told. I had not seen or been aware of all of that physical evidence. And when I saw it, I was horrified. It was so astounding to me to see that there was that much evidence."

"I had not seen that until - and when it first came out I was told. I had not seen or been aware of all of that physical evidence. And when I saw it, I was horrified. It was so astounding to me to see that there was that much evidence."

Patty Hearst, American Celebrity

25

"Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself."

"Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself."

Saint Francis de Sales, Swiss Clergyman

First, Patience

25

"In 1973 we moved to the British Isle of Man, and I put my first band together for one year, named Melody Fair."

"In 1973 we moved to the British Isle of Man, and I put my first band together for one year, named Melody Fair."

Andy Gibb, Australian Musician

24

"First of all, I'm not the kind of guy that likes to rehash the show and so forth and so on."

"First of all, I'm not the kind of guy that likes to rehash the show and so forth and so on."

Garry Shandling, American Comedian

23

"Second place is just the first place loser."

"Second place is just the first place loser."

Dale Earnhardt, American Celebrity

23

"The reason I formed my own band in the first place is so that I could step up as the singer."

"The reason I formed my own band in the first place is so that I could step up as the singer."

Ben Jackson, American Drummer

23

"From the first moment on the set I was consumed with curiousity about the technical side of shooting a sound picture."

"From the first moment on the set I was consumed with curiousity about the technical side of shooting a sound picture."

Gloria Swanson, American Actress

23

"In Genesis we saw ourselves as song-writers. After Peter Gabriel left I was the first to say: 'It's OK - we can just do instrumentals.'"

"In Genesis we saw ourselves as song-writers. After Peter Gabriel left I was the first to say: 'It's OK - we can just do instrumentals.'"

Phil Collins, English Musician

22

"It's not the case that carbon dioxide drives temperatures. When you leave Ice Ages, it's the other way around: The temperatures go up first, and then carbon dioxide levels go up."

"It's not the case that carbon dioxide drives temperatures. When you leave Ice Ages, it's the other way around: The temperatures go up first, and then carbon dioxide levels go up."

Piers Corbyn, English Scientist

22

"We should just get somebody from the left and the right and they should all throw bumper stickers at each other and the first one to cover the other one wins."

"We should just get somebody from the left and the right and they should all throw bumper stickers at each other and the first one to cover the other one wins."

David Cross, American Actor

22

"The first reason for starting to do the symphony concerts was to play this new piece of mine."

"The first reason for starting to do the symphony concerts was to play this new piece of mine."

Gerry Mulligan, American Musician

First, Play, Reason

21

bottom of page