In the realm of music and cultural iconography, few names shine as brightly as John Lennon. As one of the founding members of The Beatles, his musical genius and profound insights transcended generations, leaving an indelible mark on the world. Beyond the melodies and harmonies, John Lennon's words held a unique power to inspire, challenge, and provoke thought. In this exploration of John Lennon Quotes, we delve into the wisdom and philosophies that emerged from his artistry and activism, offering a deeper understanding of the man behind the music.
John Lennon Quotes (2024)
John Lennon, an iconic musician and visionary, left an indelible mark on the world with his music, activism, and profound insights. Here are unique quotes that reflect his wisdom, wit, and enduring message of peace and love:
"Imagine all the people living life in peace."
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
"All we are saying is give peace a chance."
"Love is the answer, and you know that for sure."
"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."
"Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears."
"Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted."
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."
"We live in a world where we have to hide to make love, while violence is practiced in broad daylight."
"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination."
"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy.' They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life."
"It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love or how you love, it matters only that you love."
"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance."
"You don't need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!"
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."
"Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, something you give away."
"It's weird not to be weird."
"Love is like a flower; you've got to let it grow."
"When you do something beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun, every morning is a beautiful spectacle, and yet most of the audience still sleeps."
"We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create."
"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliché that must have been left behind in the '60s, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal."
"It's better to fade away like an old soldier than to burn out."
"If you want peace, you won't get it with violence."
"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"
"Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky."
"Love is the greatest refreshment in life."
"I'm not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything. I've always been a freak. So I've been a freak all my life and I have to live with that, you know. I'm one of those people."
"We live in a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants, in a world that has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We have solved the mystery of the atom and forgotten the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about dying than we know about living."
"When you're drowning, you don't say, 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."
"There's nothing you can know that isn't known. Nothing you can see that isn't shown."
"It's no good screaming at the Beatles. They can't hear you."
"Love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep on watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it."
"We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it."
"Surrealism had a great effect on me because then I realized that the imagery in my mind wasn't insanity. Surrealism to me is reality."
"If you want to be a hero, well, just follow me."
"When I was 12, I used to think I must be a genius, but nobody's noticed. Either I'm a genius or I'm mad, which is it? 'No,' I said, 'I can't be mad because nobody's put me away; therefore, I'm a genius.' Genius is a form of madness and we're all that way. But I used to be coy about it, like me guitar playing. But if there's such a thing as genius—I am one. And if there isn't, I don't care."
"All you need is love."
"Give peace a chance."
"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind."
"We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections."
"Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away."
"Love is the flower you've got to let grow."
"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the 60s, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal."
"I don't believe in killing whatever the reason!"
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace."
"You're just left with yourself all the time, whatever you do anyway. You've got to get down to your own God in your own temple. It's all down to you, mate."
"There's nothing you can know that isn't known."
"I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us."
"Love is the answer, and you know that for sure; Love is a flower, you've got to let it grow."
"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
"We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections."
"I'm not afraid of death because I don't believe in it. It's just getting out of one car, and into another."
"Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it."
"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer."
"The more I see, the less I know for sure."
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends, and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
"When you do something noble and beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun, every morning, is a beautiful spectacle, and yet most of the audience still sleeps."
"I'm not claiming divinity. I've never claimed purity of soul. I've never claimed to have the answers to life. I only put out songs and answer questions as honestly as I can."
"The more real you get, the more unreal the world gets."
"As usual, there is a great woman behind every idiot."
"Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear."
"I don't believe in Beatles. I just believe in me."
"There's nothing you can do that can't be done."
"There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be."
"Count your age by friends, not years."
"We all shine on…like the moon and the stars and the sun."
"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So, I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"
"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
"I don't believe in Beatles; I just believe in me."
"I'm not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything. I've always been a freak. So I've been a freak all my life, and I have to live with that, you know. I'm one of those people."
"We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun."
"I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me."
"We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others."
"I'm not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything. I've always been a freak. So I've been a freak all my life and I have to live with that, you know? I'm one of those people."
"Love is a flower, you've got to let it grow."
"I'm not afraid of death because I don't believe in it. It's just getting out of one car and into another."
"The thing the sixties did was to show us the possibilities and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn't the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibility."
"We're all water from different rivers, that's why it's so easy to meet. We're all water in this vast, vast ocean. Someday we'll evaporate together."
"I'm really glad that most of our songs were about love, peace, and understanding."
"There's nothing you can make that can't be made."
"A mistake is only an error, it becomes a mistake when you fail to correct it."
"I don't want to be a genius. I have enough problems just trying to be a man."
"The cross of the Legion of Honor has been conferred on me. However, few escape that distinction."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one."
"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted."
"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance."
"War is over if you want it."
"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
"Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend."
"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life."
"Art is only a way of expressing pain."
"The more I see the less I know for sure."
"Love is like a flower—you've got to let it grow."
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one."
"The more real you get the more unreal the world gets."
"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."
"Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it’ll always get you the right ones."
John Lennon's words continue to resonate with people across the globe, transcending time and cultural barriers. His quotes, a blend of wisdom, wit, and idealism, often reflect his deep desire for peace and understanding in the world. Lennon's unique perspective on life, love, and happiness, as exemplified in his lyrics and interviews, has made him an enduring figure in popular culture. His ability to articulate complex emotions and ideas in simple, relatable terms has cemented his status as not just a musical icon but also a philosopher of sorts for many.
