Icons quotes

Icons

283 quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.

283 quotes

Explore further

Browse quotes that often appear alongside icons — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.

Quote collection

Icons quotes (page 1 of 15)

Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.

Barack Obama Politician
Icons

"Here in the United States, hopefully, what we're building are not just pyramids, are not icons to one pharaoh. What we're building is a culture and a way of living together that we can look back on and say, [This] was good, was inclusive, was kind, was innovative, was able to fulfill the dreams of as many people as possible."

Read quote 28 likes
Joseph Campbell Mythologist, Writer, Lecturer
Icons

"When you look at that nature world it becomes an icon, it becomes a holy picture that speaks of the origins of the world. Almost every mythology sees the origins of life coming out of water. And, curiously, that's true. It's amusing that the origin of life out of water is in myths and then again, finally, in science, we find the same thing. It's exactly so."

Read quote 20 likes
Terence McKenna Ethnobotanist, Philosopher, Writer
Icons

"We are led by the least among us - the least intelligent, the least noble, the least visionary. We are led by the least among us and we do not fight back against the dehumanizing values that are handed down as control icons."

Read quote 17 likes
Umberto Eco Writer, Philosopher, Literary Critic
Icons

"I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant. Indeed, the Macintosh is counterreformist and has been influenced by the methodical path of the Jesuits.... It is catechistic: the essence of revelation is dealt with via simple formulae and sumptuous icons. Everyone has a right to salvation. DOS is Protestant, or even Calvinistic. It allows free interpretation of scripture, demands difficult personal decisions, imposes a subtle hermeneutics upon the user, and takes for granted the idea that all can reach salvation."

Read quote 11 likes
Aung San Suu Kyi Politician, Activist
Icons

"I don't like to be called a symbol. And I don't like to be called an icon. I will just say that I have to work very, very hard. So I'd rather be known as a hard worker. I don't think symbols do much, nor icons."

Read quote 10 likes
Carl Sagan Astronomer, Astrophysicist
Icons

"Many religions have attempted to make statues of their gods very large, and the idea, I suppose, is to make us feel small. But if that's their purpose, they can keep their paltry icons. We need only look up if we wish to feel small."

Read quote 9 likes
Will Smith Actor, Producer, Rapper
Icons

"I don't want to be an icon. I want to be an idea. I want to represent possibilities."

Read quote 9 likes
Tracy Morgan Comedian, Actor
Icons

"Eddie [Murphy] is an icon. He's one of the reason why I started doing comedy in the beginning. He opened a lot of doors for black people."

Read quote 7 likes
Don King Promoter
Icons

"Muhammad Ali - he was a magnificent fighter and he was an icon... Every head must bow, every knee must bend, every tongue must confess, thou art the greatest, the greatest of all time, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali."

Read quote 6 likes
Larry Ellison Businessman
Icons

"I wish HP nothing but the best. I think HP is an icon. Those of us who had their careers in the Valley think of Dave Packard and Bill Hewlett as role models. We would love to be half as good as they were."

Read quote 6 likes
Mark Frost Screenwriter
Icons

"The superhero genre speaks to a vast swath of humanity these days, and studios are in the business of constantly renewing their money-printing licenses. I sense we're nearing a saturation point with some of these icons, where it becomes more about the action figures and Happy Meals than it does the mythological heartbeat of the core ideas."

Read quote 6 likes