August 19: Notable Births, with Quotes
Explore memorable and revealing quotes from public figures, past and present, who were born on August 19.
Matthew Perry, actor (August 19, 1969–present)
“The highs were high, the lows were low. But I have lived to tell the tale, even though at times it looked like I wouldn’t.” —Matthew Perry
Kupfer, Lindsay. “Courteney Cox: Matthew Perry put ‘a lot of pressure on himself’ during ‘Friends.’” Page Six, February 21, 2022, https://pagesix.com/2022/02/21/matthew-perry-put-a-lot-of-pressure-on-himself-during-friends/
“I never really thought of myself as a physical comedian. But when I was a kid I used to, you know, pretend to trip over things to make girls laugh in school and stuff like that. So I kind of learned how to fall without hurting yourself.” —Matthew Perry
King, Larry. “Interview With Matthew Perry.” CNN, August 22, 2002, https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lkl/date/2002-08-22/segment/00
Peter Gallagher, actor (August 19, 1955–present)
“I try to be Sandy Cohen. I never, ever wanted my kids to see me angry, because I know that anger just stops a kid. It chokes everything off.” —Peter Gallagher
Hunt, Elle. “Peter Gallagher: ‘One of the most toxic things in the world is success.’” The Guardian, May 20, 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/20/peter-gallagher-one-of-the-most-toxic-things-in-the-world-is-success
“One of the most toxic things in the world is success. I’ve seen people think they have all the answers, like: ‘If I’ve succeeded at this, then there’s nothing I can’t succeed at!’” —Peter Gallagher
Hunt, Elle. “Peter Gallagher: ‘One of the most toxic things in the world is success.’” The Guardian, May 20, 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/20/peter-gallagher-one-of-the-most-toxic-things-in-the-world-is-success
Bill Clinton, former US president (August 19, 1946–present)
“A presidential election is the world’s most important job interview.” —Bill Clinton
Clinton, Bill. “Transcript: Bill Clinton’s DNC speech.” CNN, August 18, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/18/politics/bill-clinton-speech-transcript-dnc/index.html
“It’s Trump‘s ‘Us vs. Them’ America against Joe Biden‘s America, where we all live and work together. It’s a clear choice. And the future of our country is riding on it.” —Bill Clinton
Clinton, Bill. “Transcript: Bill Clinton’s DNC speech.” CNN, August 18, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/18/politics/bill-clinton-speech-transcript-dnc/index.html
Malcolm Forbes, entrepreneur and publisher (August 19, 1919–February 24, 1990)
“While I was active in politics I never announced my split tickets, but since emancipation from political ambition it’s easier to be candid. Yes, I have voted for Democratic candidates on occasion.” —Malcolm Forbes
Ball State University Libraries. “Malcolm Forbes interview, 1980.” YouTube, August 2, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTRA9HMHI-4
“If you’re out of a job, for you it’s a depression.” —Malcolm Forbes
Ball State University Libraries. “Malcolm Forbes interview, 1980.” YouTube, August 2, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTRA9HMHI-4
Ogden Nash, poet (August 19, 1902–May 19, 1971)
“If called by a panther, don’t anther.” —Ogden Nash
Poetry Foundation. “Ogden Nash.” Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ogden-nash
“In chaos sublunary what remains constant but buffoonery?” —Ogden Nash
Poetry Foundation. “Ogden Nash.” Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ogden-nash
Coco Chanel, fashion designer (August 19, 1883–January 10, 1971)
“I’ve never made a penny out of publicity. The couture business spent a fortune on maintaining publicity, which is more than nonsense, it’s an absurdity, since extravagance damages character.” —Coco Chanel
Morand, Paul. “The Allure of Chanel.” Pushkin Press, November 19, 2013
“By starting out with what is beautiful, you can always revert to what is simple, practical and cheap; from a finely made dress, revert to ready-made, but the opposite is not true. That is why, when you go out into the streets, fashion dies its natural death.” —Coco Chanel
Morand, Paul. “The Allure of Chanel.” Pushkin Press, November 19, 2013
Orville Wright, aviation pioneer (August 19, 1871–January 30, 1948)
“That day at Kitty Hawk, we thought only of getting off the ground. Later we hoped that the airplane would be an instrument of peace, perhaps the instrument that would enforce peace.” —Orville Wright
Roberts, Chalmers M. “I Interviewed Orville Wright.” The Washington Post, December 17, 1983, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/12/17/i-interviewed-orville-wright/2894b7c8-9b4c-46ba-aecf-86fd26b4d97e/
“The aeroplane will prevent war by making it too expensive, too slow, too difficult, too long drawn out.” —Orville Wright
Briggs, Johnathon. “Wrights saw airplanes as tools of peace.” The Baltimore Sun, April 20, 2003, https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-wrights05-story.html
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