Portrait of John Lennon

John Lennon

Beatles, peace activist

Modern influential 145 sayings

Sayings by John Lennon

The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

1977 — Song lyrics, 'Nature Boy' (cover, but often attributed to Lennon's philosophy)
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You have to be a bastard to make it, and that's a fact. And the Beatles were bastards.

1970 — Quoted in 'Lennon Remembers' by Jann S. Wenner
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The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.

Undated — Widely attributed, though Oscar Wilde is the original author of this quote. Lennon may have referenc…
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I've got nothing to hide. I'm not ashamed of anything.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
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I don't pretend to be a guru. I'm just a guy who writes songs.

1969 — Interview with David Frost
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As us kids all remember, rock and roll was a great big thing, and it was a revolution, and it was freedom.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
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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.

Undated — Widely attributed, exact source difficult to pinpoint.
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I'm not a pacifist. I'm a violent man, but I'm a violent man for peace.

1969 — Interview with David Frost
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The price of fame is a lonely life.

1970 — Quoted in 'Lennon Remembers' by Jann S. Wenner
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I'm sick of all these people talking about peace and love. If you want peace and love, go out and get it.

1970 — Quoted in 'Lennon Remembers' by Jann S. Wenner
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I don't mind if you think I'm a hypocrite. I don't care.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
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We were all on this ship in the '60s, a yellow submarine. And we were all trying to find a way out.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
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I've always been a rebel. I've always been a non-conformist.

1969 — Interview with David Frost
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I don't believe in gurus. I believe in myself.

1970 — Song lyrics, 'God'
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I'm not a saint. I'm a human being. I make mistakes.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
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I'm just a guy who writes songs and wants to be happy.

1969 — Interview with David Frost
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The world is a funny place. You never know what's going to happen next.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
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I'm not a prophet. I'm just a guy who writes songs.

1969 — Interview with David Frost
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I'm not a politician. I'm a musician. I'm an artist. I'm a human being.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
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I'm not a saint. I'm a sinner. I'm a human being.

1980 — Interview with David Sheff, Playboy Magazine
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