TOPICS
SPEAKERS
HOME
BROWSE TOPICS
BROWSE SPEAKERS
◀ BACK

Samuel Beckett

Writer

Samuel Beckett is celebrated for his innovative and existential works that explore the absurdity, isolation, and resilience of the human condition. His writing challenges conventional narrative and theatrical forms, blending dark humor with profound philosophical insight. The following quotes reflect his sharp wit, contemplative depth, and the enduring impact of his literary and dramatic vision.

What do I know of man's destiny? I could tell you more about radishes.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
Ah earth you old extinguisher.
From Happy Days
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Motivational
Ever Tried. Ever Failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Motivational
They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
It is suicide to be abroad. But what it is to be at home, ... what it is to be at home? A lingering dissolution.
From All That Fall and Other Plays for Radio and Screen
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
You're on Earth. There's no cure for that.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Life
To every man his little cross. Till he dies. And is forgotten.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
I must be happy, he said, it is less pleasant than I should have thought.
From Malone Dies
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Happiness
That's how it is on this bitch of an earth.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Life
The more people I meet the happier I become.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Happiness
Astride of a grave and a difficult birth.
Down in the hole, lingeringly, the grave digger puts on the forceps.
We have time to grow old.
The air is full of our cries.
But habit is a great deadener.
At me too someone is looking, of me too someone is saying, He is sleeping, he knows nothing.
Let him sleep on.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope
Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
In the name of Bacon will you chicken me up that egg.
Shall I swallow cave-phantoms?
From Collected Poems in English and French
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Yes, there is no good pretending, it is hard to leave everything.
From Molloy / Malone Dies / The Unnamable
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope
We are all born mad. Some remain so.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
I can't go on, I'll go on.
From I Can't Go On, I'll Go On: A Samuel Beckett Reader
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
Words are the clothes thoughts wear.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The end is in the beginning and yet you go on.
From Endgame
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death, Life
I always thought old age would be a writer’s best chance. Whenever I read the late work of Goethe or W. B. Yeats I had the impertinence to identify with it. Now, my memory’s gone, all the old fluency’s disappeared. I don’t write a single sentence without saying to myself, ‘It’s a lie!’ So I know I was right. It’s the best chance I’ve ever had.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope, Philosophical
The only sin is the sin of being born
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
POZZO:
I am blind.
(Silence.)
ESTRAGON:
Perhaps he can see into the future.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
What do I know of man's destiny? I could tell you more about radishes.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
Ah earth you old extinguisher.
From Happy Days
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Motivational
Ever Tried. Ever Failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Motivational
They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
It is suicide to be abroad. But what it is to be at home, ... what it is to be at home? A lingering dissolution.
From All That Fall and Other Plays for Radio and Screen
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
You're on Earth. There's no cure for that.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Life
To every man his little cross. Till he dies. And is forgotten.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
I must be happy, he said, it is less pleasant than I should have thought.
From Malone Dies
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Happiness
That's how it is on this bitch of an earth.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Life
The more people I meet the happier I become.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Happiness
Astride of a grave and a difficult birth.
Down in the hole, lingeringly, the grave digger puts on the forceps.
We have time to grow old.
The air is full of our cries.
But habit is a great deadener.
At me too someone is looking, of me too someone is saying, He is sleeping, he knows nothing.
Let him sleep on.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope
Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
In the name of Bacon will you chicken me up that egg.
Shall I swallow cave-phantoms?
From Collected Poems in English and French
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Yes, there is no good pretending, it is hard to leave everything.
From Molloy / Malone Dies / The Unnamable
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope
We are all born mad. Some remain so.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
I can't go on, I'll go on.
From I Can't Go On, I'll Go On: A Samuel Beckett Reader
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
Words are the clothes thoughts wear.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The end is in the beginning and yet you go on.
From Endgame
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death, Life
I always thought old age would be a writer’s best chance. Whenever I read the late work of Goethe or W. B. Yeats I had the impertinence to identify with it. Now, my memory’s gone, all the old fluency’s disappeared. I don’t write a single sentence without saying to myself, ‘It’s a lie!’ So I know I was right. It’s the best chance I’ve ever had.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope, Philosophical
The only sin is the sin of being born
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
POZZO:
I am blind.
(Silence.)
ESTRAGON:
Perhaps he can see into the future.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
What do I know of man's destiny? I could tell you more about radishes.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
Ah earth you old extinguisher.
From Happy Days
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Motivational
Ever Tried. Ever Failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Motivational
They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
It is suicide to be abroad. But what it is to be at home, ... what it is to be at home? A lingering dissolution.
From All That Fall and Other Plays for Radio and Screen
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
You're on Earth. There's no cure for that.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Life
To every man his little cross. Till he dies. And is forgotten.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
I must be happy, he said, it is less pleasant than I should have thought.
From Malone Dies
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Happiness
That's how it is on this bitch of an earth.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Life
The more people I meet the happier I become.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Happiness
Astride of a grave and a difficult birth.
Down in the hole, lingeringly, the grave digger puts on the forceps.
We have time to grow old.
The air is full of our cries.
But habit is a great deadener.
At me too someone is looking, of me too someone is saying, He is sleeping, he knows nothing.
Let him sleep on.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope
Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Inspirational
In the name of Bacon will you chicken me up that egg.
Shall I swallow cave-phantoms?
From Collected Poems in English and French
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
Yes, there is no good pretending, it is hard to leave everything.
From Molloy / Malone Dies / The Unnamable
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope
We are all born mad. Some remain so.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
I can't go on, I'll go on.
From I Can't Go On, I'll Go On: A Samuel Beckett Reader
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny
Words are the clothes thoughts wear.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Philosophical
The end is in the beginning and yet you go on.
From Endgame
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death, Life
I always thought old age would be a writer’s best chance. Whenever I read the late work of Goethe or W. B. Yeats I had the impertinence to identify with it. Now, my memory’s gone, all the old fluency’s disappeared. I don’t write a single sentence without saying to myself, ‘It’s a lie!’ So I know I was right. It’s the best chance I’ve ever had.
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Hope, Philosophical
The only sin is the sin of being born
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Death
POZZO:
I am blind.
(Silence.)
ESTRAGON:
Perhaps he can see into the future.
From Waiting for Godot
NOT YET RATING ▼
Topic: Funny