Portrait of Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett

Waiting for Godot, absurdist theater

Modern influential 93 sayings

Sayings by Samuel Beckett

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

1983 — Short prose text: 'Worstward Ho'
Wisdom Unverifiable

Nothing is funnier than unhappiness, I grant you that. Yes, yes, it's the most comical thing in the world.

1957 — Play: 'Endgame'
Wisdom Unverifiable

Don't ask me to be happy. You know I can't be happy. I'm not made for that.

1953 — Play: 'Waiting for Godot'
Wisdom Unverifiable

I can't go on. I'll go on.

1953 — Novel: 'The Unnamable'
Wisdom Unverifiable

We are born astride of a grave, and a hellish light gleams for a instant, then it's night once more.

1953 — Play: 'Waiting for Godot'
Life & Death Unverifiable

The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep, somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.

1953 — Play: 'Waiting for Godot'
Wisdom Unverifiable

To find a form that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now.

1961 — Interview with Tom F. Driver
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I use the words you taught me. If they don't mean anything any more, teach me others. Or let me be silent.

1957 — Play: 'Endgame'
Educational Unverifiable

What do I know of man's destiny? I could tell you more about radishes.

1951 — Novel: 'Malone Dies'
Inspirational Unverifiable

Habit is a great deadener.

1953 — Play: 'Waiting for Godot'
Wisdom Unverifiable

You are on earth, there's no cure for that!

1957 — Play: 'Endgame'
Nature & World Unverifiable

All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

1983 — Short prose text: 'Worstward Ho'
Wisdom Unverifiable

The end is in the beginning and yet you go on.

1957 — Novel: 'Fin de partie' (Endgame)
Wisdom Unverifiable

Let's go. We can't. Why not? We're waiting for Godot.

1953 — Play: 'Waiting for Godot'
Wisdom Unverifiable

I say, 'You must go on.' I can't go on. I'll go on.

1953 — Novel: 'The Unnamable'
Wisdom Unverifiable

We are all born mad. Some remain so.

1953 — Play: 'Waiting for Godot'
Wisdom Unverifiable

I love this world. I've heard it said. I love this world. That's a good one.

1961 — Play: 'Happy Days'
Love & Relationships Unverifiable

Dance, dance, dance, until you drop.

1957 — Play: 'Endgame'
Wisdom Unverifiable

To be an artist is to fail, as no other dare to fail.

Unknown — Undetermined, often quoted as an articulation of his artistic philosophy.
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

The dead are all alive.

1963 — Play: 'Cascando'
Life & Death Unverifiable
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