Throughout our lives we have heard countless phrases that have remained in our memory because they form part of a real and transcendent memory or because they have been broadcast at a historical moment, by an iconic character or even heard in a film or read in a book that has marked us.

In this article you will find some of the mythical phrases that have been important for many and have gone down in history.

A selection of mythical phrases

Below we present a collection of mythical phrases issued at great moments in history, by great personalities or that have emerged from highly recognized films or books.

1. I only know that I don’t know anything (Socrates)

This phrase is attributed to Socrates, who was of the opinion that the wise man is not the one who thinks he knows much but the one who recognizes the limits of his knowledge.

2. A Small Step for Man, a Great Leap for Mankind (Neil Armstrong)

This phrase was pronounced by Neil Armstrong in a historical moment that will remain in the memory of those who lived it: the arrival of man on the Moon on July 21, 1969.

3. I have a dream (Martin Luther King)

One of the most mythical and representative phrases of Martin Luther King are these three words with which he would start one of the most emotional and important discourses that would end up ending racial segregation in the United States.

4. If you look for different results, don’t always do the same thing (Albert Einstein)

This sentence by Albert Einstein reflects the need to take risks and vary strategies if we want to achieve different results.

5. I think, therefore I am (René Descartes)

This sentence by Descartes reflects that we must exist since we are capable of thinking, doubting and elaborating ideas in spite of the fact that our perceptions and judgments and those imposed on us by society may be wrong.

6. Those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it (Edmund Burke)

This sentence reflects the need to take into account the past in order to overcome and not fall into the same situations.

7. We’re all geniuses. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will live its whole life thinking it is useless (Albert Einstein)

Another phrase from Einstein, which teaches us that we all have our strengths and weaknesses and that we should not judge others only by the latter.

8. Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime (Lao Tse)

A variation of , a phrase originating from Lao Tse , shows the importance of teaching others to subsist over and above simply giving them charity.

9. Live like you’re going to die tomorrow. Learn as if you will live forever (Mahatma Gandhi)

This phrase from Gandhi encourages us to live our lives to the fullest, while at the same time stimulating us to learn and grow continuously.

10. Never argue with a fool, he will bring you down to his level there he will beat you by experience (Mark Twain)

This phrase refers to not falling into provocations or meaningless discussions.

11. Fall seven times, rise eight (Japanese proverb)

This mythical phrase comes from a Japanese proverb, which urges us to never give up.

11. Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees (Author unknown, possibly Emiliano Zapata)

Although the origin of this phrase is not totally clear and h has been pronounced by different historical personalities , it refers to the need to fight for what is believed to be just and not to submit.

12. He is not brave who is not afraid, but he who knows how to conquer it (Nelson Mandela)

Courage does not imply not being afraid, but being able to act in spite of it.

13. In spite of everything, I still think people are good (Anne Frank)

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp , during the Holocaust. Her diary, which she wrote before she and her family were imprisoned, was to be retrieved and published. This is one of her phrases, which invites us to think about goodness and hope even in times of death and destruction.

14. The history of the great events of the world is hardly more than the history of its crimes (Voltaire)

This phrase reflects, on the contrary, that the history of humanity is full of works of barbarism.

15. Be the change you want to be in the world (Mahatma Gandhi)

This phrase pushes us to act in a way that is consistent with what we believe and want.

16. Make Love, Not War (Gershon Legman)

This phrase, a slogan of pacifism and opposition to violence and linked to the hippie movement, pushes us to seek peaceful and affectionate action instead of resolving conflicts through violence.

17. The best way to avoid temptation is to fall into it (Oscar Wilde)

This mythical phrase pushes us to experience and not be afraid of what we want or are tempted by.

18. I’ve never met anyone so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from them (Galileo Galilei)

This sentence reflects that we all have something to contribute and that we can learn something from everyone.

19. There are only two infinite things: the Universe and human stupidity, although I am not sure about the first one (Albert Einstein)

This phrase reflects that there will always be those who act irresponsibly or against common sense.

20. I saw the angel on the marble and carved it until I set it free (Michelangelo)

This phrase teaches us to build our lives as we believe we should and encourages us to exploit our talents until they are freely expressed.

21. Never forget to smile, because the day you don’t smile will be a lost day (Charlie Chaplin)

It is important to try to take life with joy and humor.

22. The measure of love is to love without measure (St. Augustine)

This sentence reflects that we should not try to measure love or else we are not really loving.

23. There is no way to peace, peace is the way (Mahatma Gandhi)

We often focus on seeking peace as a goal, rather than thinking it is the path we should take to live and be happy.

24. Sometimes we feel that what we do is only a drop in the sea, but the sea would be less if it were missing a drop (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

We must never underestimate what we contribute, even if we think it is little or that we will not make a difference.

25. In life there are no things to fear, only things to understand (Marie Curie)

This sentence reflects that we should not be afraid of the unknown, but try to understand it. Once this has been done, it will no longer be frightening.

26. Do not do to others what you would not like done to you (Confucius)

This phrase from Confucius indicates the need to behave with others as we would like them to behave with us.

27. Love has no cure, but it is the only medicine for all ills (Leonard Cohen)

This phrase reflects the importance we give to love, as one of the most positive forces.

28. A faithful friend is a soul in two bodies (Aristotle)

One of the greatest bonds and which generates in us a greater sense of unity and belonging is friendship .

29. It is better to act at the risk of regretting it, than to regret not having done anything (Giovanni Boccaccio)

Often what we regret most is what we don’t do, so it’s better to risk remaining in doubt about what we would have achieved.

30. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger (Friedrich Nietzsche)

This phrase reflects that even if it hurts us, everything we live and survive allows us to learn from the experience and to become stronger.

31. People who ignore their history, people who are condemned to repeat it (Abraham Lincoln)

This sentence encourages us to take into account our past to avoid making the same mistakes.

32. There is certainly no progress (Charles Darwin)

This simple sentence expresses that there would be no possibility of progress if we had no doubts about the established one.

33. Give me a lever and a point of support and I will move the world (Archimedes)

This mythical phrase from antiquity expresses a fundamental law of mechanics that would make it possible to lift large weights easily thanks to ingenious devices such as pulley systems.

34. History is written by the winners (George Orwell)

This phrase is highly regarded and has been used and modified by different historical personalities, such as Churchill. It expresses that in history we only have the point of view of those who won the conflicts, with the version of those who lost disappearing.

35. Man is master of his silences and slave of his words (Aristotle)

This sentence encourages us to reflect on what we are saying and the effects it may have.

36. You are what you do, not what you say you will do (Carl Gustav Jung)

This phrase expresses that what we say we are going to do does not identify us, while what we do is.

37. Be water my friend (Bruce Lee)

This mythical phrase belongs to Bruce Lee, and drives us to behave like water : fluid, without a fixed and immovable form, adaptable to circumstances and situations.

38. He who never loved, never lived (John Gay)

This phrase expresses the importance of love and bonding with others as something fundamental in our lives.

39. When the sage points at the moon, the fool looks at the finger (Confucius)

This phrase expresses the need to see beyond and not to remain obvious and superficial about things.

40. They can cut the flowers, but they cannot stop the spring (Pablo Neruda)

This sentence reflects that even though there are people who are determined not to accept the changes, they will continue to take place. Likewise, no matter how much censorship there is, public opinion ends up resurfacing.

Mythical phrases of the cinema

Below are also some phrases that, although not pronounced by real characters, are mythical phrases from the world of cinema.

41. As God is my witness, I will never go hungry again (Gone with the Wind)

Belonging to the film “Gone with the Wind”, this phrase pronounced by the character Scarlet O’hara symbolizes struggle and will.

42. My house… Phone… (E.T.)

This iconic phrase from the movies brings to mind the endearing alien who befriended Eliot and wanted to return home. Interestingly, this mythical phrase from the movie E.T. is the product of a translation error from English. In the original version E.T. says “Phone home”, which actually corresponds to a “Call home”.

43. May the Force be with you (Star Wars)

This phrase from Star Wars is used during the saga as a blessing.

44. We will always have Paris (Casablanca)

This mythical phrase from the film Casablanca occurs at the moment of the final farewell, referring to the memory of the passionate relationship between the protagonists in that city. It proposes to remember the good moments that have been lived together.

45. My mother says that life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get (Forrest Gump)

This sentence expresses that in life we can find countless surprises that we cannot control.

46. They can take our lives, but they’ll never take… Freedom! (Braveheart)

This iconic phrase spoken by William Wallace (Mel Gibson in the film) expresses the need to fight for what is right and to be free even if it means losing one’s life.

47. Are you talking to me? Are you telling me? Tell me, is it me? (Taxi Driver)

Another mythical phrase of the cinema, in which the character played by Robert de Niro performs a monologue in front of the mirror. The monologue in question was also totally improvised by the actor.

48. The first rule of Fight Club is: Don’t talk about Fight Club

One of the best known phrases in this film.

49. No, I am your father (Star Wars)

Although the phrase we all remember is “Luke, I am your father”, in reality the actual phrase does not include “Luke”; this is a small mistake made by the majority of the population and a sign of the Mandela effect.

50. Sayonara, baby (Terminator 2)

A mythical phrase from the movie Terminator, which we used to say goodbye to this list.