As is true with all brands of Southerners, Georgians are known to have quite a way with words. There is an eloquence to be found in the candidness of the language. Here is a collection of 20 quotes from famous Georgians. Not only will you find that their words are often humorous, to the point or incredibly insightful, you might find some Georgians on this list that you didn’t know were from around here.

“The only way that I could figure they could improve upon Coca-Cola, one of life’s most delightful elixirs, which studies prove will heal the sick and occasionally raise the dead, is to put bourbon in it.” -Lewis Grizzard

“A woman who rides a motorcycle is in tune with the universe, a candidate for high adventure.” -Celestine Sibley





“Music is love in search of a word.” -Sidney Lanier

“All I want is the same thing you want. To have a nation with a government that is as good and honest and decent and competent and compassionate and as filled with love as are the American people.” -Jimmy Carter

“Affluence separates people. Poverty knits ’em together. You got some sugar and I don’t; I borrow some of yours. Next month you might not have any flour; well, I’ll give you some of mine.” -Ray Charles

“I had to fight all my life to survive. They were all against me… but I beat the bastards and left them in the ditch.” -Ty Cobb

“The dirtiest mind in the world is the mind of a censor.” -Charles Coburn

“The thing with kids is that you only get one chance to do it right. It’s really important to share their gifts while they’re discovering them. That’s why spelling bees are such a compelling story. They stimulate them intellectually, they awaken their competitive spirit, but it’s fun. There’s something fun about words.” -Laurence Fishburne III

“If you must make a noise, make it quietly.” -Oliver Hardy

“There is no normal life, there’s just life.” -Doc Holliday

“You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank as to praise him for playing by the rules.” -Bobby Jones

“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

“Sometimes the best things are right in front of you; it just takes some time to see them.” -Gladys Knight

“Right is right, even if no one else does it.” -Juliette Gordon Low

“I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken – and I’d rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.” -Margaret Mitchell

“When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: money.” -Jerry Reed

“The grass may look greener on the other side, but believe me, it’s just as hard to cut.” -Little Richard

“I am not concerned with being liked or disliked. I am concerned with being respected.” -Jackie Robinson

“The only people who have quick answers don’t have the responsibility of making the decisions.” -Clarence Thomas

And in the great tradition of saving the funniest and possibly most eloquent quote for last…

“Money doesn’t buy happiness. It buys great hookers – but not happiness.” -Burt Reynolds