Portrait of John Lennon

John Lennon

Beatles, peace activist

Modern influential 145 sayings

Sayings by John Lennon

I'm not trying to be a guru or a leader. I'm just trying to be myself.

1970s — Interview
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

I don't believe in yesterday, I believe in today.

1970s — Interview
Inspirational Unverifiable

I'm a very insecure person. I'm very insecure about my talent. I'm very insecure about my appearance. I'm very insecure about everything.

1970s — Interview
Wisdom Unverifiable

I'm not a saint. I'm not a sinner. I'm just a guy who makes music.

1970s — Interview
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I'm just a human being who's trying to make a living and trying to make some sense of this crazy world.

1970s — Interview
Wisdom Unverifiable

I'm not a leader. I'm a follower. I follow my heart.

1970s — Interview
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I'm not a spokesman for a generation. I'm a spokesman for myself.

1970s — Interview
Wisdom Unverifiable

Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first – rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me.

1966 — Interview with Maureen Cleave, Evening Standard
Religious Unverifiable

I'm not a politician, I'm an artist. I'm not a politician, I'm a musician.

1972 — Interview, 'The Mike Douglas Show'
Political Unverifiable

Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today.

1971 — Song lyrics, 'Imagine'
Religious Unverifiable

A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.

Undated, widely attributed — Quoted in 'John Lennon: The Official Exhibition' by Yoko Ono
General Unverifiable

The thing is, I'm a rock 'n' roller. I'm not a folk singer. I'm not a jazz musician. I'm a rock 'n' roller. And I'm proud of it.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
General Unverifiable

Reality is something you rise above.

Undated, widely attributed — Quoted in 'The Lennon Companion' edited by Elizabeth Thomson and David Gutman
General Unverifiable

I am a most unhappy man. I am a most unhappy man. I am a most unhappy man. I am a most unhappy man.

1970 — Quoted in 'Lennon Remembers' by Jann S. Wenner
General Unverifiable

Art is only a way of expressing yourself. It's not a way of making money.

1969 — Interview with David Frost
General Unverifiable

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.

1971 — Song lyrics, 'Imagine'
General Unverifiable

All you need is love.

1967 — Song lyrics, 'All You Need Is Love'
General Unverifiable

When you do something beautiful and nobody notices, do not be sad. For the sun every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.

Undated — Widely attributed, exact source difficult to pinpoint, often appears in quote compilations.
General Unverifiable

I'm not going to change the world. I'm just going to change me.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
General Unverifiable

Being honest may not get you many friends, but it'll always get you the right ones.

Undated — Widely attributed, exact source difficult to pinpoint.
General Unverifiable
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