![\"hamlet](\"https:\/\/specials-images.forbesimg.com\/imageserve\/688c3fd7b2e650a2debf5b30\/hamlet--one-of-the-best-book-quotes\/960x0.jpg?fit=scale\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
David Tennant (as Hamlet) performs in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” which features one of the best book quotes.<\/p>\n
Corbis via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The most memorable popular book quotes pack a lot of power into just a sentence or two. Good book lines set the stage for the entire book, creating expectations for what themes will be explored, which type of language will be used, and who the narrator is. You may be inspired by good quotes from famous books, or you may find the best book sentences remind you of something important in your own life. The best sayings from books often become indelible parts of culture, phrases quoted so much that they become a type of shorthand for a feeling. This list of inspiring lines from books hits on classic and contemporary examples to provide lots of new reading material.<\/p>\n
Great Lines From Literature<\/p>\n
A good book quote speaks to a universal truth, uses original and concise language and offers insights you know to be true. The best quotes make you think, too. Some of the most frequently quoted writers include William Shakespeare, Dr. Seuss, Toni Morrison and Jane Austen<\/a>.<\/p>\n These rankings are based on popularity of the quotes, enduring wisdom of what they convey, beauty of the language and how frequently they show up in pop culture.<\/p>\n 15. \u201cCongratulations!\/Today is your day.\/You’re off to Great Places!\/You’re off and away!\u201d\u2014Oh, The Places You\u2019ll Go by Dr. Seuss (1990)<\/p>\n One of the most famous Dr. Seuss lines opens the last book<\/a> published during the author\u2019s lifetime. It conveys the excitement of starting on a new journey, one reason this book is frequently gifted to recent graduates. Seuss simplifies the act of moving on while also deftly building anticipation for what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n This book is best for people entering new phases of life. Dr. Seuss\u2019s Oh, The Places You\u2019ll Go is available from publisher Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n 14. \u201cIt is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.\u201d\u2015Autumn Leaves by Andr\u00e9 Gide (1950)<\/p>\n French intellectual Andr\u00e9 Gide\u2019s heralded essay collection drops this singular truth about being true to oneself. Better that people dislike you for your true self than like you for something you are not. Most people learn this lesson the hard way; if they\u2019d only listen to Gide.<\/p>\n This book is best for those trying to find themselves. Andr\u00e9 Gide\u2019s Autumn Leaves is available from publisher Philosophical Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n 13. “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”\u2015Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)<\/p>\n The folly of youth has value, as Louisa May Alcott shows in her acclaimed novel. So many of life\u2019s lessons can only be learned through experience\u2014and not every day will be smooth sailing, which Amy March wisely embraces. Such insights are one reason this classic has remained popular for more than a century.<\/p>\n This book is best for young people looking for coming-of-age insights<\/a>. Louisa May Alcott\u2019s Little Women is available from publisher Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n 12. “Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt.”\u2014Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (1969)<\/p>\n The phrase \u201ccomfortably numb\u201d comes to mind when considering this quote, an epitaph of sorts for protagonist Billy Pilgrim. The former soldier, whose war trauma comes back to haunt him, slowly accepts the absurdity of life and how history painfully repeats itself. This phrase is certainly disconnected from Billy\u2019s actual experience.<\/p>\n This book is best for anyone trying to make sense of history. Kurt Vonnegut<\/a>\u2019s Slaughterhouse-Five is available from Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n 11. “True sorrow is as rare as true love.\u201d\u2014Carrie by Stephen King (1974)<\/p>\n Calling the word \u201csorry\u201d the \u201cKool-Aid of human emotions,\u201d Stephen King<\/a> defines the difference between saying something and feeling something. People claim to be sorry but rarely feel actual sorrow, he argues\u2014and his supernatural protagonist makes those people pay when she takes revenge on them for their terrible bullying.<\/p>\n This book is best for horror fans. Stephen King\u2019s Carrie is available from publisher Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n Author Stephen King, whose book “Carrie” includes one of the most memorable book quotes. <\/p>\n Getty Images Everyone is unique, yes, but friendships are based on commonalities\u2014and there is no better way to feel connected than to realize that someone else shares your weird thought, hobby or obsession. It makes you feel less alone, C.S. Lewis argues in this treatise on the nature of love.<\/p>\n This book is best for those who want to understand the underpinnings of love. C.S. Lewis\u2019s The Four Loves is available from publisher HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n 9. “Who controls the past controls the future.\u201d\u2014Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949)<\/p>\n Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it\u2014unless they rewrite it. In George Orwell\u2019s dystopian novel, Big Brother is always watching over this totalitarian state, and the Ministry of Truth rewrites the past to match its version of events. When a Ministry employee begins to question the wisdom of this, everything could unravel.<\/p>\n This book is best for fans of dystopian or classic novels<\/a>. George Orwell\u2019s Nineteen Eighty-Four is available from publisher HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n 8. “What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”\u2014The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas (2017)<\/p>\n Teenager Starr Carter must decide whether to call out\u2014at great personal risk to herself and her family\u2014the racist actions of the police who shot and killed her friend. She slowly realizes that no one can afford to keep their mouth closed if they want things to change, even when they risk harm themselves.<\/p>\n This book is best for anyone struggling with a tough decision. Angie Thomas\u2019s The Hate U Give is available from publisher HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n 7. \u201cKnow your own happiness. You want nothing but patience\u2015or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.\u201d\u2015Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (1811)<\/p>\n Happiness is not the same for everyone. You may be told by society that something will make you happy, but it\u2019s not always the case\u2014and understanding that can save you a lot of heartache, as Jane Austen so elegantly explains in Sense and Sensibility, a passionate \u201copposites attract\u201d love story.<\/p>\n This book is best for fans of romance novels. Jane Austen\u2019s Sense and Sensibility is available from publisher Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n 6. \u201cWe accept the love we think we deserve.\u201d\u2015The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (1999)<\/p>\n Has there ever been a better way to describe the concept of \u201csettling?\u201d Stephen Chbosky gorgeously sums up why so many people with low self-esteem accept the bare minimum in life\u2014whether in romance, friendships or family. Protagonist Charlie slowly learns that he deserves so much more in this YA novel.<\/p>\n This book is best for anyone looking for a deep young adult read. Stephen Chbosky\u2019s The Perks of Being a Wallflower is available from publisher Simon & Schuster<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5. \u201cDarkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.\u201d\u2015A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. (1986)<\/p>\n Martin Luther King Jr. maintained a hopeful viewpoint even during the darkest days of his activism. He continually made a choice to embrace the light and encourage others to do so as well. In A Testament of Hope, the Reverend explains the principles that guide him and his humanitarian ethos.<\/p>\n This book is best for everyone, really, as it speaks to so many universal concerns. Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s A Testament of Hope is available from publisher HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dr Martin Luther King Jr. speaking before crowd of 25,000 civil rights marchers in front of Montgomery, Alabama state capitol building.<\/p>\n Getty Images Book lovers also love quotes about books, and this is one of the best. It sums up the sublime experience of reading\u2014hopping into another dimension without actually moving. Jhumpa Lahiri\u2019s novel emphasizes the importance of maintaining ties to your heritage while embracing a new country, and books play a critical role in that story.<\/p>\n This book is perfect for anyone who has felt the push and pull of two cultural identities. Jhumpa Lahiri\u2019s The Namesake is available from publisher HarperCollins<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3. \u201cJust because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.\u201d\u2015Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)<\/p>\n Catch-22 is one of the best satires ever written, and this line is a classic example of why. It is often repeated in popular culture, which doesn\u2019t make it any less true. Sometimes there is a reason for odd behavior, and this takedown of war and war culture does an exceptional job of showing that.<\/p>\n This book is best for anyone looking for laughs as well as philosophical questions. Joseph Heller\u2019s Catch-22 is available from publisher Simon & Schuster<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. \u201cDefinitions belong to the definers, not the defined.\u201d\u2015 Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987)<\/p>\n How fitting that a novel about human enslavement so perfectly sums up the issue with power dynamics. Formerly enslaved woman Sethe is tortured by memories of her daughter, whom she believes has been reincarnated. Sethe recognizes that even post-Civil War, she cannot fully determine how people see her.<\/p>\n This book is best for fans of exceptional prose and storytelling. Toni Morrison<\/a>\u2019s Beloved is available from Penguin Random House<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1. \u201cTo be, or not to be, that is the question:\/Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer\/The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,\/Or to take arms against a sea of troubles\/And by opposing end them. To die\u2014to sleep,\/No more.\u201d\u2014Hamlet, William Shakespeare (1623)<\/p>\n William Shakespeare\u2019s works<\/a> have stood the test of time for a reason. His wit, unflinching observations and outstanding characterization are all on display in Hamlet, about the Danish prince mourning his father and questioning everything else in his life. His soliloquy weighing life and death is poignant yet beautiful.<\/p>\n This book is best for anyone who has trouble taking action. William Shakespeare\u2019s Hamlet is available from publisher Simon & Schuster<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bottom Line<\/p>\n Great books generate great quotes, and all the works on this list are worth your time beyond those inspiring, memorable lines. Pick one up to see the power of words on full display.<\/p>\n Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/p>\n What Are Great Quotes From Harry Potter?<\/p>\n J.K. Rowling\u2019s Harry Potter book series<\/a> is one of the most popular collections of all time, and it has some fantastic quotes. Here are two standouts:\u00a0<\/p>\n In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban<\/a>\u00a0(1999), Dumbledore says to Harry, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.\u201d This quote speaks to the importance of your own attitude in navigating tough times.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets<\/a> (2002), Dumbledore drops a similarly insightful nugget to Harry, telling him: “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities,” reminding the boy that greatness comes from who we choose to be and not who is the most powerful.<\/p>\n What Are Great Shakespeare Quotes?<\/p>\n Shakespeare\u2019s wisdom has endured for centuries. Here are two oft-repeated quotes from his plays:\u00a0<\/p>\n In As You Like It<\/a> (1623), Jaques says, \u201cAll the world\u2019s a stage,\/And all the men and women merely players.\u201d Human nature is to put on a performance rather than show our true selves, according to Shakespeare.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Romeo and Juliet<\/a> (1597), Juliet says, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” She\u2019s urging Romeo to forget his own name (their families\u2019 blood feud is why they can\u2019t be together) and realize their love would be just as strong without it.\u00a0<\/p>\n What Are Great Dr. Seuss Quotes?<\/p>\n Gifted children\u2019s author Dr. Seuss wrote dozens of books, many of which remain popular. Here are two of his most enduring quotes:\u00a0<\/p>\n In The Lorax<\/a> (1971), the line \u201cUnless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”\u00a0reminds everyone that all it takes is one person to make a difference.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Horton Hears a Who<\/a> (1954), Horton says, \u201cA person’s a person, no matter how small,\u201d underscoring how everyone is equally important, whatever their physical stature.\u00a0<\/p>\n What Are Great Quotes From Biographies?<\/p>\n Biographies tell the stories of great people whose legacies endure. Here are two excellent quotes from a pair of bestselling biographies<\/a>:<\/p>\n Laura Hillenbrand\u2019s Unbroken<\/a> (2010) quotes Olympian and former prisoner of war Louis Zamperini as saying, \u201cThat’s one thing you learn in sports. You don’t give up; you fight to the finish,” which he certainly did in his races and in life.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ron Chernow\u2019s Alexander Hamilton<\/a> (2005) sums up the reason for the success of the American Revolution nicely: \u201cThe American Revolution was to succeed because it was undertaken by skeptical men who knew that the same passions that toppled tyrannies could be applied to destructive ends.\u201d<\/p>\n What Are Great Quotes From Romance Novels?<\/p>\n A bon mot that perfectly captures true love\u2014that\u2019s what the greatest quotes from romance novels<\/a> accomplish, including these two:\u00a0<\/p>\n In Nicholas Sparks\u2019s The Notebook<\/a> (1996), Allie tells Noah,\u00a0\u201cYou are, and always have been, my dream.\u201d Nothing else matters, in other words\u2014only love.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n10. \u201cFriendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another \u2018What! You too? I thought that no one but myself…\u2019\u201d\u2015The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis (1960)<\/p>\n
\n4. “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”\u2014The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (2003)<\/p>\n