John Winston Lennon, better known as John Lennon , was one of the most remembered musicians in history, and was part of one of the most successful musical bands: “The Beatles”. He was born on October 9, 1940, in the British city of Liverpool. He died in 1980, at 40 years of age.
Lennon will always be remembered for his songs full of feeling but, in addition, this famous character uttered a large number of interesting reflections throughout his life. In fact, he is one of the musicians who has inspired the most through his lyrics and his public image.
In this article you can find a selection of the best quotes from John Lennon for you to enjoy:
1. My role in society or that of any artist or poet is to try and express what we feel. Don’t tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of all of us
Humble as always, John Lennon explains what his role as a musician is.
2. They made us believe that each of us is half of an orange, and that life only makes sense when we find the other half. They didn’t tell us that we are already born whole, that no one in our life deserves to carry on our backs the responsibility of completing what we lack.
We are all valuable people, we don’t need anyone to find happiness.
3. Being honest may not get you a lot of friends, but it always gets you the right ones.
When you have a good heart, the people you surround yourself with are truly valuable.
4. Either you get tired fighting for peace or you die
John Lennon was always a defender of peace He was totally against the war.
5. All we say is give peace a chance
He always believed that human beings should live in harmony instead of fighting against each other.
6. All you need is love
Love is a force that moves the world and makes it work better, it does not separate it.
7. Religion is just a way to get tithes from the ignorant, there is only one God, and he does not get rich like charlatan priests.
A quote from John Lennon that invites deep reflection about religion
8. It doesn’t matter how long my hair is or the color of my skin or if I am a man or a woman.
We all have our qualities, we are different. However, we are all people.
9. The more I see the less I know, surely
Again, his humble mindset comes out with this quote. .
10. Reality leaves a lot to the imagination
Lennon was always a creative person, that’s why he got as far as he did.
11. I wasn’t going to sacrifice true love for any friend or business, because in the end you’re left alone at night and neither of us wanted to be. You can’t fill a bed with groupies, it doesn’t work. I don’t want to be a swinger. Nothing works better than having someone who loves you hugging you.
With this phrase, Lennon makes it clear that he was a faithful person.
12. We were four boys. I met Paul, invited him to join my band. Then George joined and then Ringo. We were a group that got very, very big, that’s all
Lennon explaining how one of the best bands in history was formed.
13. Part of me suspects that I am a loser, and the other thinks that I am the almighty God
People can feel down one day and up the next.
14. When you are drowning you don’t say “I would be incredibly grateful if someone would be careful enough to notice that I am sinking and come help me”, you just scream.
A curious phrase that talks about the delicate moments of life.
15. I was like in the eye of a hurricane. You wake up at a concert and think “Wow, how did I get here?”
Being on top of the music world must be an incredible experience.
16. Surrealism had a great effect on me because I realized that the imagination in my mind was not madness. Surrealism for me is reality
John Lennon making clear reference to the surrealist art movement
17. It doesn’t matter that you hide behind a smile and wear nice clothes, if there’s one thing you can’t hide, it’s how rotten you are inside.
There is nothing worse than having a stained soul and not being a worthy person.
18. We were all on this boat in the 60s, our generation, a boat that was going to discover the new world. And the Beatles were on the bow of that ship
The Beatles are considered the best music band in history.
19. If being an egomaniac means believing in what I do and my art or music, then you can call me that…I believe in what I do, and I will say it
A phrase with a certain touch of irony about the ego of a musician.
20. Some are willing to do anything, except live here and now
Living in the present is an act of brave people.
21. What the 60s did is show us the possibilities and responsibilities that we all have. It wasn’t the answer. He just gave us an idea of the responsibility
The 60s were years of change, but also years of growth.
22. I believe that time heals all wounds
Time heals everything, according to this famous character.
23. Jesus was right, but his disciples were ordinary and ordinary
A phrase that makes its religious side clear.
24. There is nothing you can know that is not known
A quote that expresses the extent to which human beings we are constantly discovering things
25. It doesn’t matter who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love or how you love. It only matters that you love
This phrase is summarized in: “the important thing is to love.”
26. The cross of the Legion of Honor has been conferred on me. However, few escape that distinction
What Lennon said when he was presented with the British Legion Cross.
27. We live in a world where we hide to make love, while violence is practiced in broad daylight
A phrase that makes all the sense in the world. Better to make love than to make war.
28. I’m not technically very good, but I can make a guitar howl and swing.
John Lennon was a fantastic musician. For that he will be remembered eternally.
29. Rituals are important. Nowadays it is modern not to be married. I’m not interested in being modern
This musician firmly believed in marriage as a form of commitment.
30. I don’t believe in killing, whatever the reason!
This artist was always against war , and argued that there are no reasons to enter into a war. This is one of the most remembered John Lennon phrases.
31. Everything is clearer when you are in love
Love makes you feel truly rewarding experiences.
32. If someone thinks that love and peace are a cliché, they must have stayed in the sixties, that is their problem. Love and peace are eternal
The Beatles musician was a strong defender of love and peace.
33. Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans
A great quote that inspires everyone. A true motivating phrase.
34. Yoko inspires all this creation in me. It’s not that she inspires my songs. She inspires me
Yoko Ono was the great love of his life She never hid it.
35. God is a concept by which we measure our pain
Believing in God can be a way of not wanting to face reality.
36. I started the band. I dissolved it. It’s that simple. My life with The Beatles had become a trap, a continuous tape… When I finally had the guts to tell the other three that, in quotes, I wanted a divorce, they understood that I meant it; unlike Ringo and George’s previous threats to leave
Lennon He was one of the most emblematic figures of the Beatles but left the group in 1970.
37. Living is easy with your eyes closed
This ironic phrase refers to the fact that life can be complicated.
38. I do not affirm divinity. I have never affirmed purity of soul. I have never claimed to have the answers to life. I just play songs and answer questions as honestly as I can
His songs were not intended to impose beliefs, only to give his opinion.
39. You have to be a bastard to do it and that’s a fact. And the Beatles are the biggest bastards on earth
The Beatles managed to be crowned at the top and, to this day, they are still remembered.
40. When you do something noble and beautiful and no one notices, don’t be sad. The sunrise is a beautiful sight and yet most of the audience is still asleep
We cannot always be exemplary people. There will be times when we are not.
41. Being rich doesn’t change your life experiences. The only difference, basically, is that you don’t have to worry about money, food, shelter, etc. But all other experiences, emotions, relationships are the same. I know: I was rich and poor and so was Yoko.
Money does not give happiness. It is told by someone who had a lot of money.
42. I can’t believe I’m being decorated. I believed it was necessary to drive tanks and win wars
A critique of how the world works based on social relations that are governed by money.
43. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King are great examples of non-violent beings who died violently. That can never work. We’re pacifists, but I’m not sure what it means when you’re a pacifist and you get shot. I can’t understand that
Lennon talking about great figures of peace.
44. Each person is the reflection of the music they listen to
The music we listen to depends on our personality. At least that’s what Lennon thinks.
45. I don’t fear death because I don’t believe in it. I think it’s just getting out of the car to get into another one.”
46. Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not right, it’s not the end
We can all learn from mistakes. They are growth opportunities.
47. You are alone with yourself all the time, with anything you do. You have to go down to your own God in your own temple. It’s all up to you, mate.
We are owners of our life, and we can direct it if we have the will.
48. You don’t need anyone to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!
One is what one is. Regardless of what others think.
49. Let’s dream of peace
Again, a quote that refers to peace. Lennon promoted very worthy values
50. A dream you dream alone is just a dream. A dream you dream with someone it’s a reality
Lennon was in love with life, in love with Yoko Ono.
51. You don’t need a sword to cut flowers
In clear relation to the war. It is always better to give a flower than to kill someone.
52. My name is not Beatle John. It’s John Lennon
John Lennon decided to go solo after the success of the Beatles.
53. 1+1=John+Yoko. Simple math
Another quote that shows his pure love towards Yoko Ono.
54. Love is wanting to be loved. Love is asking to be loved. love is to need to be loved
We all need to be loved. We are social beings, no one likes to be alone.
55. When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness is the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wrote happily. They told me that I did not understand the question. I told them that they did not understand life
A deep reflection on happiness Something we should all learn.
56. It’s weird not to be weird
We all have our own personality, our way of thinking, our beliefs. It’s what makes us incredibly unique.
57. I am not The Beatles, Paul is not The Beatles. The Beatles are The Beatles. Separately, they are separate. Moment to moment, that’s how we live now. We appreciate every day and fear them too. It could be the last day. It sounds funny, but any day you could get hit by a car or something. I’m starting to appreciate it
A phrase he said when the Beatles were breaking up.
58. Count your age by friends, not years. Tell your life by smiles, not by tears
Life should not be valued by the years you have, but by the experiences you have had.
59. In my life I have only had two friends, Yoko and Paul
You can have everything in this life, but real friendship is something that is not abundant
60. People grow through people. If we are in good company it is more enjoyable
We learn from others. Coexistence is necessary to develop and be happy.
61. I was trying to say something about Christianity, the idea that you have to be tortured to reach heaven. I didn’t believe that
Throughout his career, Lennon made some critical comments about the Christian religion.
62. I always prefer studying, once I master and control it. I like it because it is complete control
Lennon came to take control of the entire creative process of his songs and albums.
63. Barney Kessel is amazing. It’s just amazing… Nobody can play guitar like that.
Like most great musicians, Lennon also had his myths and idols.
64. You don’t need a gun to blow your mind
Lennon was always in favor of peace and against weapons.
65. Well, move it, baby!
One of the most recognized choruses of one of his most famous songs: “Twist and Shout”.
66. I dream in color, and it’s always very surreal. My dream world is complete with Hieronymus Bosch and Dalí. I love it, I look forward to it every night.
Lennon was, above all, a great artist and a man of immeasurable creativity and sensitivity.
67. Happiness is a good vibe for peace
John Lennon was a tireless activist for peace.
68. I believe that many bad things have happened in the name of the church and in the name of Christ and therefore I distance myself from the church
Lennon never hesitated to denounce what for him were great injustices in history.
69. We want to move forward, but where are we heading?
Some of his quotes are truly philosophical and contain deep reflections.
70. We are all God. I am not a god or the God, but we are all God and we are all potentially divine and potentially evil
Lennon always had a spiritual side that he did not hesitate to show in the interviews he did.
71. We are not disinterested in politics. It’s just that politicians aren’t interesting.
Lennon led one of the most important bands in history, in the midst of a political and cultural context of great change.
72. There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love
A phrase that is still valid today.
73. It is better to fade like an old soldier than to burn out
Some of his great quotes reveal a tormented personality.
74. Art is just a way to express pain
A somewhat pessimistic way of conceiving art.
75. As I play the game of life, I try to do better every day. And when I fight in the night, the magic of music seems to light the way
Many of his phrases are true anthems in favor of peace, hope and artistic inspiration.
76. Imagine that there are no religions
Lennon was always very critical of religions in general.
77. So “Sgt. Pepper” caught you by surprise
Fragment of the song “How do you sleep”, directed at Paul McCartney and in which he throws some sarcastic taunts at the former Beatle.
78. These are my friends: George Parasol, Ringo Stone and Paul McCharmly.
Both Lennon and the rest of the Beatles always joked with the press when they had the opportunity.
79. “The Beatles” is just a name, like “shoe.”
Although he came up with the band’s name and was one of its most popular members, he never took himself too seriously.
80. The sound you make is music to my ears, you must have learned something in all these years
One of the many ironic messages that Lennon addressed to McCartney after the breakup of the Beatles, half jokingly, half seriously.
