George Bernard Shaw Quotes: Top Quotes To Inspire You

George Bernard Shaw Quotes

Students, especially those attempting to explore their potential through education and self-discovery, find great inspiration in George Bernard Shaw’s insightful quotes. Shaw, renowned for his diverse abilities as a dramatist, critic, and socialist spokesperson, faced financial difficulties and multiple rejections on his journey to creative triumph. Students navigating the hurdles of education and personal inquiry, especially those considering studying abroad, can relate strongly to his story of resilience and his confidence in the creativity and progress of each individual. For individuals who want to explore the uncharted territories of global education, Shaw’s understanding of self-creation and the value of preserving a young spirit despite obstacles acts as a motivating compass.

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The purpose of reading a quote is to get some motivation and encouragement to help you with your tasks. Some good quotes can come to your rescue when you are drowsing in low spirits. George Bernard Shaw was a great writer who saw many struggles in his life yet chose to shine bright like a star. He added wittiness and meaning to his quotes, which many of us love. Let’s get to know more about him and his quotes.

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When Did George Bernard Shaw Decide To Write?

Shaw had decided to become a writer by 1876. He struggled financially to the point where his mother essentially supported him while he worked on his first novels in the British Museum reading room. Despite the time he spent writing them, they were widely rejected by publishers and ended up being a letdown.

Shaw also began writing book reviews of art, music, and theatre. In 1895, he was hired as the Sunday Review’s theatre critic. At this point, he had discovered his true calling in creative writing– writing plays.

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Top 5 George Bernard Shaw Quotes

Allow these George Bernard Shaw’s quotes to take you through life lessons and reminders and lift you at challenging times.

1. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

In a room full of people, we get lost. They have different opinions, tastes, feelings, perspectives, and more. Everyone will guide you a certain way. You might feel the need to find your true self and your true intentions. 

You must learn to give yourself a chance. If unsure about your future, take measures to create your path. Create your own identity and brand. Work on what you want instead of finding what went wrong. Follow your heart and use your instincts; things will turn out well. 

2. “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

There is nothing worse than a rigid mind. Nothing can be done for us if we refuse to change our minds, right? This quote is about looking at the facts and changing our minds when the facts contradict our previous thoughts or beliefs.

The most critical aspect of change is that it starts within. If we only focus on outward change, then we will always be discouraged, confused, and even lost. We must learn to accept our faults and change our views when the situation demands it. A flexible mind will always lead to a better future and a sensible thought process.

3. “Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”

We have always heard the common phrase ‘half knowledge is dangerous.’ Providing false knowledge and following blindly is unacceptable.

Since ignorance is simply the lack of knowledge, and everyone is ignorant of something, it’s understandable at some point.

False knowledge, on the other hand, is having incorrect information about something. It is worse than ignorance because false knowledge leads you to believe you know the answer. This is especially dangerous in the hands of people in positions of authority or power, as it leads to various undesirable circumstances.

4. “I learned long ago never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”

You’re well aware that a person is difficult. Even exceedingly unruly & obstinate. So, getting into a mud-slinging brawl with them is never the solution.

People without direction enjoy getting involved in massive, dramatic, unnecessary sprawls. As a child, a bad kid in your class, or as an adult, your boss may have tried to bring you down.

It demonstrates how important they are. The goal here is attention, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s good or bad attention. Their whole agenda is to seek attention. Make sure to avoid such people who try to pull your leg and instigate you. If you fall for that minute instigation, things will never be in your favor.

5. “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

We are all wired to play, which is essential to our overall health. Why do we then stop playing as we get older? We are so engrossed in our life and work that we don’t prioritize what is important for ourselves.

It is good to keep the child in you alive. When facing a challenging situation or going through a bad phase, keep your mind fresh with some exercise and play.

Did you enjoy swimming, hiking, or swinging as a child? Do you like painting, drawing, dancing or climbing? Give it another shot, this time connecting with the emotion of how you feel while doing it. 

It usually indicates what you should be doing and what you will enjoy doing. Remember that play does not have to have a purpose. It can simply be something you love to do.

So, if you’re reading this, challenge yourself to get out there and play more. Get out this weekend and add some play and fun to your monotonous days.

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George Bernard Shaw Quotes About Life

1. “Any belief worth having must survive doubt.”
2. “Both optimists and pessimists contributes to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute.”
3. “People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”
4. “The longer I live the more convinced am I that this planet is used by other planets as a lunatic asylum.”
5. “Write your sad times in sand, write your good times in stone.”
6. “The reason man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
7. “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
8. “I can’t control what life did to me, but I can control how I react. Therein lies the difference.”
9. “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
10. “Don’t wait for the right opportunity: create it.”
11. “Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
12. “Experience fails to teach where there is no desire to learn.”
13. “If there was twenty ways of telling the truth and only one way of telling a lie, the government would find it out. It’s in the nature of the government to tell lies.”
14. “A native american elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner : Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, the one I feed the most.”
15. “Some people look at the world and say ‘why?’. Some people look at the world and say ‘why not?’”

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Key Takeaways

• George Bernard Shaw quotes can shape your mind and give you the much-needed motivation for your day. It has the power to lift your mood and energize you with positive thoughts.
• George Bernard Shaw was a great writer who gave the world immense knowledge and a point of view. His quotes act as the reminders we need in life.
• Each quote provides a learning experience. The quotes teach you everything from creating yourself, making tough choices, and living your life to the fullest.

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FAQs

Ques 1: What is George Bernard Shaw most famous for?

Answer 1: George Bernard Shaw is well-known for his role in redefining comedic drama. He was a literary critic as well as a prominent British socialist.

Ques 2: What did George Bernard Shaw win a Nobel prize for?

Answer 2: Shaw is one of only two people in history to have received an Academy Award and the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1925, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature; the committee stated that his work was “marked by both idealism and humanity. It is stimulating satire often infused with a singular poetic beauty.”

Ques 3: What did George Bernard Shaw believe in?

Answer 3: Throughout his life and career, Shaw remained a devoted socialist. Many of his plays, such as Mrs. Warren’s Profession and Pygmalion, are socialist in nature, addressing issues like women’s rights, poverty, and capitalism.

Ques 4: What are the G B Shaw quotes on democracy?

Answer 4: His top quotes on democracy are:

1. “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.”
2. “Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.”
3. “If despotism failed only for want of a capable benevolent despot, what chance has democracy, which requires a whole population of capable voters.”
4. “To make democracy work, you need an aristocratic democracy. To make aristocracy work, you need a democratic aristocracy.”
5. “Democracy is a word all public men use and none understand.”

Ques 5: What are the G B Shaw quotes on the family?

Answer 5: His top quotes on family are:

1. “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.”
2. “Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children.”
3. “If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.”
4. “The test of a man or woman’s breeding is how they behave in a quarrel.”
5. “A family is a tyranny ruled over by it’s weakest member.”