A huge number of famous people died in 2016. Not only were they widely respected, but as this post confirms, they were highly quotable. (This story is a sneak peek from our 30th annual edition, Uncle John’s Old Faithful Bathroom Reader, available November 2017.)
“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”
— Muhammad Ali (1942-2016)
“I think there should be laughs in everything. Sometimes it’s a slammed door, a pie in the face, or just a recognition of our frailties.”
— Alan Rickman (1946-2016), actor
“Youth and beauty are not accomplishments.”
— Carrie Fisher (1956-2016), actress and author
“A long time ago, I realized that I loved to sing, dance, and make people laugh. The trick is finding something that you like and sticking with it.”
— Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016) actor
“It’s always helpful to learn from your mistakes because then your mistakes seem worthwhile.”
— Garry Marshall (1934-2016), writer/director
“It’s not the hair on your head that matters; it’s the kind of hair you have inside.”
— Garry Shandling (1949-2016), actor and comedian
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.”
— Harper Lee (1926-2016), author of To Kill a Mockingbird
“You learn something out of everything, and you come to realize more than ever that we’re all here for a certain space of time, and then it’s going to be over, and you better make this count.”
— Nancy Reagan (1921-2016), former First Lady
“I’ll tell you what the public likes more than anything, it’s the most rare commodity in the world: honesty.”
— Merle Haggard (1937-2016), singer/songwriter
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
— Leonard Cohen (1934-2016), singer/songwriter
“Just remember, strength and courage. If you stand on principle, you’ll never lose.”
— Janet Reno (1938-2016), former U.S. Attorney General
“Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger.”
— Arnold Palmer (1929-2016), golfer
“Macho does not prove mucho.”
— Zsa Zsa Gabor (1917-2016), actress
“We are humans. There is a finite end to this life and we’re all going to face it, and a little silliness can help.”
— Alan Thicke (1947-2016), actor
“Except for a few guitar chords, everything I’ve learned in my life that is of any value I’ve learned from women.”
— Glenn Frey (1948-2016), singer/songwriter
“Life is just a party, and parties weren’t meant to last.”
— Prince (1958-2016)
