Nostalgia has a special way of warming our hearts. It can take us back to simpler times with just a few words. Retro quotes, in particular, capture these feelings beautifully. They remind us of past wisdom, humor, and charm that stand the test of time.
This collection of retro quotes offers a window into moments we cherish. Whether you need a bit of inspiration or a good laugh, these words bring us closer to the essence of the past. Let’s dive into timeless quotes that continue to resonate.
Inspiring Quotes from the Past
“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” - Tony Robbins
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” - J.R.R. Tolkien, ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” - Oscar Wilde
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” - George Eliot
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
“We accept the love we think we deserve.” – Stephen Chbosky, ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’
“we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” - Nelson Mandela
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K. Rowling, ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” - Louisa May Alcott
“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” – William Shakespeare
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill
“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – J.K. Rowling, ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln
Funny Retro Quotes to Make You Smile
“I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure.” — Retro Wisdom
“I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.” — Benjamin Franklin
“Why don’t you come up sometime and see me?” — Mae West
“I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants.” — A. Whitney Brown
“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.” — Niels Bohr
“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” — Margaret Mead
“Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” — Ancient Proverb
“Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese.” — Billie Burke
“When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye.” — Cathy Guisewite
“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.” — Groucho Marx
“I can resist everything except temptation.” — Oscar Wilde
“I am not young enough to know everything.” — J. M. Barrie
“The only time a woman really succeeds in changing a man is when he is a baby.” — Natalie Wood
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” — Charlie Chaplin
“I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.” — Steven Wright
“Life is hard; it’s harder if you’re stupid.” — John Wayne
“My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them.” — Mitch Hedberg
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” — Oscar Wilde
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” — Lewis Carroll
“I’m not arguing, I’m just explaining why I’m right.” — Anonymous
“I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.” — Fred Allen
“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” — W.C. Fields
Nostalgic Quotes to Take You Back in Time
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” – Oscar Wilde
“I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’.” – Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption
“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” – Erich Segal, Love Story
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” – Dylan Thomas
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – Charles M. Schulz
“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Tony Robbins
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“Here’s looking at you, kid.” – Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” – Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
“To infinity and beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that’s why they call it the present.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“If you want to sing out, sing out.” – Cat Stevens
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” – Robert Frost
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
“And the love you take is equal to the love you make.” – The Beatles
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” – L.P. Hartley, The Go-Between
“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” – Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society
Timeless Wisdom from Retro Quotes
“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” – Oscar Wilde
“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” – From “Nature Boy,” Nat King Cole
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Fellowship of the Ring”
“In seeking happiness for others, you find it for yourself.” - Anonymous
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
“There is nothing permanent except change.” - Heraclitus
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” – Oscar Wilde
“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” - Dalai Lama
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” – David Viscott
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” – William Shakespeare
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“If I know what love is, it is because of you.” – Hermann Hesse
“Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old.” – Jonathan Swift
“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.” - John Lennon
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
“Wisdom begins in wonder.” – Socrates
“We accept the love we think we deserve.” – Stephen Chbosky, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero
“And the love you take is equal to the love you make.” – The Beatles
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Fellowship of the Ring”
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” – Amelia Earhart
Love and Life Lessons in Retro Quotes
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” – David Viscott
“Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
“In dreams and in love, there are no impossibilities.” – Janos Arany
“You don’t love someone because they’re perfect. You love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.” – Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper
“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved—loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” – Victor Hugo
“Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow.” – John Lennon
“There is no remedy for love but to love more.” – Henry David Thoreau
“True love stories never have endings.” – Richard Bach
“Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“A life lived in love will never be dull.” – Leo Buscaglia
“To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.” – William Makepeace Thackeray
“The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of.” – Blaise Pascal
“Love is a friendship set to music.” – Joseph Campbell
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” – Audrey Hepburn
“Where there is love there is life.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” – Aristotle
“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.” – Khalil Gibran
“To be brave is to love unconditionally without expecting anything in return.” – Madonna
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“we discover that to love and let go can be the same thing.” – Jack Kornfield
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu
“The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” – Franklin P. Jones
The Last Word
Retro quotes remind us of simpler times and timeless wisdom. They capture the essence of past eras, bringing a sense of nostalgia and charm. Each quote on our list offers a unique perspective, whether it’s about love, life, or just a witty observation. These words have stood the test of time and continue to inspire.
Feeling nostalgic? Our collection of retro quotes will brighten your day and perhaps give you a new favorite saying. Whether you share them with friends or keep them for personal reflection, these quotes are sure to leave a lasting impression.