June 18, 2024 | Sarah Ng

Robin Williams Quotes That Made Us WEEP


Missing Robin Williams

Robin Williams had a knack of pulling at our heartstrings with his perfect comedy. Throughout his life, he shared deep insights and acted in films that we still quote today.

Grab your tissues, because these quotes might make you miss him even more.

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The Saddest People

"I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy. Because they know what it feels like to feel absolutely worthless and they don't want anybody else to feel like that."

Portrait Photo of Robin Williams arriving at a celebrity eventVicki L. Miller, Shutterstock

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The Worst Thing In Life

"I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is end up with people that make you feel all alone."

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Robin Williams smilingABC, Wikimedia Commons

I Do Believe In Love

"I do believe in love; it’s wonderful—especially love third time around, it’s even more precious; it’s kind of amazing."

Portrait Photo of Robin Williams smiling and facing the cameraJohn Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Words And Ideas Can Change The World

"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world." —Dead Poets Society (1989)

Screenshot from the movie Dead Poets Society (1989)Touchstone, Dead Poets Society (1989)

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They Really Do Mythologize People

"In America, they really do mythologize people when they die."

Portrait Photo of Robin Williams in Washington, D.C. May 8, 1996Kingkongphoto, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

They Can't Forgive Themselves

"Good people end up in Hell because they can’t forgive themselves."

Portrait Photo of Robin Williams smiling and facing the cameraJohn Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Not Just Delaying Death

"Our job is improving the quality of life, not just delaying death." —Patch Adams (1998)

Screenshot from the movie Patch Adams (1998)Universal, Patch Adams (1998)

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Seize The Day

"Seize the day. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing." —Dead Poets Society (1989)

Screenshot from the movie Dead Poets Society (1989)Touchstone, Dead Poets Society (1989)

Stop Being Afraid Of Getting Older

"Stop being afraid of getting older. With age comes wisdom and confidence."

Robin Williams performs as part of a USO holiday showU.S. Air Force photo, Wikimedia Commons

You Will Have Bad Times

"You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to." —Good Will Hunting (1997)

Screenshot from the movie Good Will Hunting (1997)Miramax, Good Will Hunting (1997)

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Mistakes Can Be Wonderful

"There is still a lot to learn and there is always great stuff out there. Even mistakes can be wonderful."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Acting Out Optimism

"Comedy is acting out optimism."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Chad J. McNeeley, Wikimedia Commons

Rush Hour

"Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?"

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Real Loss

"You don’t know about real loss because it only occurs when you’ve loved something more than you love yourself." —Good Will Hunting (1997)

Screenshot from the movie Good Will Hunting (1997)Miramax, Good Will Hunting (1997)

No Shame In Failing

"There’s no shame in failing. The only shame is not giving things your best shot."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.John J. Kruzel, Wikimedia Commons

Taking Pictures

"Nobody takes a picture of something they want to forget."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Jeff Troth, Wikimedia Commons

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A Man Must Look Inward

"Self-reliance is the key to a vigorous life. A man must look inward to find his own answers."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin WilliamsJJJJJPPPPP, Flickr

I Believe In Destiny

"I try to make sense of things. Which is why, I guess, I believe in destiny. There must be a reason that I am as I am. There must be." —Bicentennial Man (1999)

Screenshot from the movie Bicentennial Man (1999)Touchstone, Bicentennial Man (1999)

I Am The Harshest Critic Of My Work

"It’s hard when you read an article saying bad things about you. It is as if someone is sticking a knife on your heart. But I am the harshest critic of my work."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Daniel Boud, Flickr

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If Heaven Exists

"If heaven exists, to know that there are laughs, that would be a great thing."

Grayscale Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Truus, Bob & Jan too!, Flickr

It's Better To Be Alone

"Don’t associate yourself with toxic people. It’s better to be alone and love yourself than surrounded by people that make you hate yourself."

Robin Williams in Mork and Mindy (1978)Truus, Bob & Jan too!, Flickr

Open A Window

"There’s a world out there. Open a window, and it’s there."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Arry Irawan, Flickr

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What We Stay Alive For

"We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." —Dead Poet's Society (1989)

Screenshot from the movie Dead Poets Society (1989)Touchstone, Dead Poets Society (1989)

Change Is Not Popular

"Change is not popular; we are creatures of habit as human beings. 'I want it to be the way it was.' But if you continue the way it was there will be no 'is.'"

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.sundawncer, Flickr

My Children Give Me A Great Sense Of Wonder

"My children give me a great sense of wonder. Just to see them develop into these extraordinary human beings."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Steve Rhodes, Flickr

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What's Right

"What’s right is what’s left if you do everything else wrong."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams.Arry Irawan, Flickr

The Hypocrisy That Exists Everywhere

"For me, comedy starts as a spew, a kind of explosion, and then you sculpt it from there, if at all. It comes out of a deeper, darker side. Maybe it comes from anger, because I’m outraged by cruel absurdities, the hypocrisy that exists everywhere, even within yourself, where it’s hardest to see."

Grayscale Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin WilliamsNews Mag, Flickr

Just Dance On My Grave

"I have not thought about it, but when I die, just dance on my grave and water the plants with what you are drinking. Please do not clone me, because after a while your clone is not as bright as you are."

Portrait Photo of American actor and comedian Robin Williams wearing a hatAdam, Flickr

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To Be Free

"To be free. Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world." —Aladdin (1992)

Robin Williams performs for the audience at an all-hands gathering aboard Naval Support Activity BahrainDennis J. Herring, Wikimedia Commons

A Beautiful Fake Smile

"All it takes is a beautiful fake smile to hide an injured soul."

Robin Williams at the world premiere of his new movie Walt Disney's Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock

Don't Worry So Much

"Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end none of us have very long on this earth. Life is fleeting. And if you’re ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky." —Jack (1996)

Screenshot from the movie Jack (1996)Zoetrope, Jack (1996)

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Your Table Is Ready

"Death is nature’s way of saying, 'Your table is ready.'"

Actor ROBIN WILLIAMS at the 70th Academy Awards.Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock

Find Your Own Voice

"You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all." —Dead Poets Society (1989)

Screenshot from the movie Dead Poets Society (1989)Touchstone, Dead Poets Society (1989)

Death Is Not The Enemy

"What’s wrong with death, sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can’t we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and dignity, and decency, and God forbid, maybe even humor? Death is not the enemy, gentlemen. If we’re going to fight a disease, let’s fight one of the most terrible diseases of all, indifference." —Patch Adams (1998)

Screenshot from the movie Patch Adams (1998)Universal, Patch Adams (1998)

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Our Weird Little Worlds

"We get to choose who we let in our weird little worlds." —Good Will Hunting (1997)

Screenshot from the movie Good Will Hunting (1997)https://www.miramax.com/

A Little Spark Of Madness

"You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."

ROBIN WILLIAMS at the 33rd Annual People's Choice AwardsFeatureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock

What You Can Get Away With

"Stand-up is the place where you can do things that you could never do in public. Once you step on stage, you're licensed to do that. It's an understood relationship. You walk on stage, it's your job. Then it's a question of what can you get away with."

Robin Williams at the 2011 BAFTA/LA Britannia AwardsFeatureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock

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A Whole Lifetime In A Day

"Sometimes you can have a whole lifetime in a day and never notice that this is a beautiful as it gets."

Robin Williams at the world premiere of s_bukley, Shutterstock

Creating Something Together

"Being in the same room with people and creating something together is a good thing."

ROBIN WILLIAMS at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock


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