First Quotes | Beyond Motive 4/13

top of page

First Quotes

"I do better on the first three takes; I won't be better at 20 takes."

"I do better on the first three takes; I won't be better at 20 takes."

Kevin Bacon, American Actor

44

"First of all, we must note that the universe is spherical."

"First of all, we must note that the universe is spherical."

Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish Scientist

First, Universe

44

"First, I'd like to see the basic tools such as compilers, debuggers, profilers, database interfaces, GUI builders, CAD tools, and so forth fully support the ISO standard."

"First, I'd like to see the basic tools such as compilers, debuggers, profilers, database interfaces, GUI builders, CAD tools, and so forth fully support the ISO standard."

Bjarne Stroustrup, Danish Scientist

First, Support, Tools

44

"The first thing we become convinced of is that man is organized so as to be far more sensible of pain than of pleasure."

"The first thing we become convinced of is that man is organized so as to be far more sensible of pain than of pleasure."

Jean Savarin, French Lawyer

First, Man, Pain, Pleasure

44

"My drawings at first were made altogether in watercolors, but they wanted softness and a great deal of finish."

"My drawings at first were made altogether in watercolors, but they wanted softness and a great deal of finish."

John James Audubon, American Scientist

44

"My first review for the TV movie The Bionic Showdown said I was as interesting as a bus ride."

"My first review for the TV movie The Bionic Showdown said I was as interesting as a bus ride."

Sandra Bullock, American Actress

44

"If anybody says he can think about quantum physics without getting giddy, that only shows he has not understood the first thing about them."

"If anybody says he can think about quantum physics without getting giddy, that only shows he has not understood the first thing about them."

Niels Bohr, Danish Physicist

44

"World Play is very '70s arena rock, very raw and in your face, and that's what we wanted. We recorded it in a very off-the-cuff manner and didn't really plan out how we were going to play. My solos are first takes."

"World Play is very '70s arena rock, very raw and in your face, and that's what we wanted. We recorded it in a very off-the-cuff manner and didn't really plan out how we were going to play. My solos are first takes."

Neil Schon, American Musician

First, Play, World

44

"I see myself on the cover of a magazine and I don't think that it looks like me at all. My first-ever photo shoot was for the cover of a lads' magazine."

"I see myself on the cover of a magazine and I don't think that it looks like me at all. My first-ever photo shoot was for the cover of a lads' magazine."

Elize Du Toit, British Actress

44

"A mathematical theory is not to be considered complete until you have made it so clear that you can explain it to the first man whom you meet on the street."

"A mathematical theory is not to be considered complete until you have made it so clear that you can explain it to the first man whom you meet on the street."

David Hilbert, German Mathematician

First, Man, Theory

44

"The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who were there first."

"The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who were there first."

Steven Tyler, American Musician

44

"First, I'm trying to prove to myself that I'm a person. Then maybe I'll convince myself that I'm an actress."

"First, I'm trying to prove to myself that I'm a person. Then maybe I'll convince myself that I'm an actress."

Marilyn Monroe, American Actress

44

"My first album was me finding myself and my voice, finding how I sing. I was rolling with the punches because everything was new to me."

"My first album was me finding myself and my voice, finding how I sing. I was rolling with the punches because everything was new to me."

Chris Brown, American Musician

44

"Study first, play afterwards."

"Study first, play afterwards."

Daniel D. Palmer, Canadian Celebrity

First, Play, Study

44

"And also a lot of Muslims are no more religious then the average Swede. For them it's natural that human rights come first."

"And also a lot of Muslims are no more religious then the average Swede. For them it's natural that human rights come first."

Bjorn Ulvaeus, Swedish Musician

First, Rights, Human rights, Religious

44

"Bob Dylan's first couple of records in the 60's weren't considered cover records, but he only wrote one or two original songs on each album."

"Bob Dylan's first couple of records in the 60's weren't considered cover records, but he only wrote one or two original songs on each album."

John Mellencamp, American Musician

43

"Certainly, the Bush Administration will rely in the first instance on its friends, since it would be both illogical and counterproductive to reward its adversaries."

"Certainly, the Bush Administration will rely in the first instance on its friends, since it would be both illogical and counterproductive to reward its adversaries."

Richard V. Allen, American Public Servant

First, Friends, Reward, Will

43

"Your lungs are changed forever from your first cigarette."

"Your lungs are changed forever from your first cigarette."

Loni Anderson, American Actress

43

"The Lord Chamberlin was censoring scripts when I first came into the theater."

"The Lord Chamberlin was censoring scripts when I first came into the theater."

Judi Dench, English Actress

43

"And the things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those that got there first."

"And the things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those that got there first."

Steven Tyler, American Musician

43

"I learned the first night that IHOP's not the place to order fish."

"I learned the first night that IHOP's not the place to order fish."

Larry David, American Actor

First, Fish, Night, Order

43

"First we have to believe, and then we believe."

"First we have to believe, and then we believe."

Martha Graham, American Dancer

43

"My first two records were more energetic; Phantom Moon is subtle, quiet; so these various reactions are just something I expected."

"My first two records were more energetic; Phantom Moon is subtle, quiet; so these various reactions are just something I expected."

Duncan Sheik, American Musician

First, Moon, Quiet

43

"I think the first album cover was considered most provocative. I think that contributed a great deal."

"I think the first album cover was considered most provocative. I think that contributed a great deal."

Julie London, American Musician

First, Provocative

43

"The first thing I did was a print ad for Century Plaza. I was five."

"The first thing I did was a print ad for Century Plaza. I was five."

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, American Actor

43

"I'll play it first and tell you what it is later."

"I'll play it first and tell you what it is later."

Miles Davis, American Musician

43

"The first calculators tended to sell for $400 or $500. Today, you can get a pretty good one for 4 or $5."

"The first calculators tended to sell for $400 or $500. Today, you can get a pretty good one for 4 or $5."

Jack Kilby, American Scientist

First, Pretty, Today

43

"Season number seven! It's been so exciting for us. When we first began, we were like the little train that could... and we did! We're terribly excited! It will be an interesting season for us, I think."

"Season number seven! It's been so exciting for us. When we first began, we were like the little train that could... and we did! We're terribly excited! It will be an interesting season for us, I think."

Roma Downey, Irish Actress

43

"It was a boy's name first."

"It was a boy's name first."

Leslie Nielsen, Canadian Actor

43

"When you first are in front of the camera as a young person, you'd be surprised at all the insecurities you can get."

"When you first are in front of the camera as a young person, you'd be surprised at all the insecurities you can get."

Kurt Russell, American Actor

43

"A theatre receives recognition through its initiative, which is indispensable for first-rate performances."

"A theatre receives recognition through its initiative, which is indispensable for first-rate performances."

Franz Liszt, Hungarian Composer

43

"To have doubted one's own first principles is the mark of a civilized man."

"To have doubted one's own first principles is the mark of a civilized man."

Oliver Holmes, Jr., American Judge

First, Man, Principles, Oliver Holmes

43

"Even at the last minute we were still debating what was gonna be released as the first single."

"Even at the last minute we were still debating what was gonna be released as the first single."

Meg White, American Musician

43

"But when our first album came out, I didn't think it was going to sell a lot of records."

"But when our first album came out, I didn't think it was going to sell a lot of records."

Stephan Jenkins, American Musician

43

"Usually, in the studio, on this sort of thing... you just go out and have a play over it, and see what comes, and it's usually - mostly - the first take that's the best one, and you find yourself repeating yourself thereafter."

"Usually, in the studio, on this sort of thing... you just go out and have a play over it, and see what comes, and it's usually - mostly - the first take that's the best one, and you find yourself repeating yourself thereafter."

David Gilmour, British Musician

43

"I was the first movie star to plunge into night-time soap opera."

"I was the first movie star to plunge into night-time soap opera."

Dorothy Malone, American Actress

First, Night, Opera

43

"It's not all that different with the orchestra. There are orchestras that seem to be encased in dough, so that first you have to break through the normal routine, and clear out the openings."

"It's not all that different with the orchestra. There are orchestras that seem to be encased in dough, so that first you have to break through the normal routine, and clear out the openings."

Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, German Musician

First, Orchestras, Routine

43

"The human voice is the first and most natural musical instrument, also the most emotional."

"The human voice is the first and most natural musical instrument, also the most emotional."

Klaus Schulze, German Composer

42

"In the first place, the preparation of the Nobel lecture which I am to give has shown me, even more clearly than I knew before, how many others share with me, often, indeed, have anticipated me, in the discoveries for which you have awarded me the prize."

"In the first place, the preparation of the Nobel lecture which I am to give has shown me, even more clearly than I knew before, how many others share with me, often, indeed, have anticipated me, in the discoveries for which you have awarded me the prize."

Frederick Soddy, English Scientist

First, Preparation

42

"When I moved to L.A. in 1989, the very first thing I did was this horrific pilot called To Protect And Surf."

"When I moved to L.A. in 1989, the very first thing I did was this horrific pilot called To Protect And Surf."

Thomas Haden Church, American Actor

42

"In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently."

"In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently."

Harry A. Blackmun, American Judge

First, Order, Race, Racism

42

"We don't really need reviewers, just first-night reporters who will tell us faithfully whether or not the audience liked the show."

"We don't really need reviewers, just first-night reporters who will tell us faithfully whether or not the audience liked the show."

Carroll O'Connor, American Actor

42

"Neil Armstrong, when he was out there landing on the moon, I was there first."

"Neil Armstrong, when he was out there landing on the moon, I was there first."

Mark Roberts, American Actor

42

"Anytime I hear that somebody's really rich, the first question is, 'Do you do anything with it? Or do you, like, chill? You just sit on it?'"

"Anytime I hear that somebody's really rich, the first question is, 'Do you do anything with it? Or do you, like, chill? You just sit on it?'"

Kristen Stewart, American Actress

First, Question

42

"If Jesus was a Jew, how come he has a Mexican first name?"

"If Jesus was a Jew, how come he has a Mexican first name?"

Billy Connolly, Scottish Comedian

42

"First, I'm trying to edit down about 7 hours of material which I made prior to the Cop days and find some way to get it out. This stuff is pretty out there, mostly sonic collages and tape manipulations."

"First, I'm trying to edit down about 7 hours of material which I made prior to the Cop days and find some way to get it out. This stuff is pretty out there, mostly sonic collages and tape manipulations."

Jim Coleman, American Actor

First, Pretty, Trying

42

"Well, you know, I mean, I first did my live shows in the late 70's and in those days I had a boatload of equipment that always seemed to be going wrong."

"Well, you know, I mean, I first did my live shows in the late 70's and in those days I had a boatload of equipment that always seemed to be going wrong."

Thomas Dolby, English Musician

42

"If you wish to avoid seeing a fool you must first break your looking glass."

"If you wish to avoid seeing a fool you must first break your looking glass."

Francois Rabelais, French Clergyman

42

"We consider Monteverdi the first composer of opera. There was someone before, but everything started with Monteverdi."

"We consider Monteverdi the first composer of opera. There was someone before, but everything started with Monteverdi."

Cecilia Bartoli, Italian Musician

42

"My first endeavor was to save the core of the German system of justice: the independent judiciary."

"My first endeavor was to save the core of the German system of justice: the independent judiciary."

Hans Frank, German Public Servant

42

bottom of page