65 Funny and Profound Robin Williams Quotes

Robin Williams was a famed actor and comedian who astounded everyone with his otherworldly improvisational skills. During his career, Williams proved that he can impersonate both funny and dramatic characters.

The string of successful film roles and stand-up comedy shows made him one of America's funniest performers; his ability to take on serious work earned him an Oscar, for his outstanding performance in Good Will Hunting.

Robin Williams struggled with alcohol and drug addiction, but eventually overcame it and maintained his sobriety. The actor also suffered depression and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (information disclosed by his wife after he passed away). He couldn’t cope with the fact that he had to face a degenerative disease for the rest of his life, so at the age of 63, Williams took his own life.

His fans still find it hard to take since he was the ultimate "giver," as an artist. Williams had a remarkable wit, a charismatic personality and was always captivating.

Here are 65 Robin Williams quotes that capture his wisdom and humor.

Best Robin Williams quotes

I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.

All it takes is a beautiful fake smile to hide an injured soul.

Seize the day. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing. - from Dead Poets Society

You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to.

There is still a lot to learn and there is always great stuff out there. Even mistakes can be wonderful.

There’s no shame in failing. The only shame is not giving things your best shot.

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.

Don’t associate yourself with toxic people. It’s better to be alone and love yourself than surrounded by people that make you hate yourself.

The only weapon we have is the comedy.

Change is not popular; we are creatures of habit as human beings. 'I want it to be the way it was.' But if you continue the way it was there will be no 'is.'

For me, comedy starts as a spew, a kind of explosion, and then you sculpt it from there, if at all. It comes out of a deeper, darker side. Maybe it comes from anger, because I’m outraged by cruel absurdities, the hypocrisy that exists everywhere, even within yourself, where it’s hardest to see.

Time is the best teacher, unfortunately, it kills all of its students.

The world is open for play, everything and everybody is mockable in a wonderful way.

You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. from Dead Poets Society

Comedy can be a cathartic way to deal with personal trauma.

To be free. Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world.

Robin Williams quotes to inspire you

You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.

I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.

For a while you get mad, then you get over it.

There are no rules. Just follow your heart.

We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.

Good people end up in Hell because they can’t forgive themselves.

I believe in destiny. There must be a reason that I am as I am. There must be.

Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'

Imagining something is better than remembering something.

Sometimes, over things that I did, movies that didn’t turn out very well–you go, ‘Why did you do that?’ But in the end, I can’t regret them because I met amazing people. There was always something that was worth it.

You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, everywhere even the stars.

There’s a world out there. Open a window, and it’s there.

It’s hard when you read an article saying bad things about you. It is as if someone is sticking a knife on your heart. But I am the harshest critic of my work.

You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome.

Robin Williams quotes about life

Make your life spectacular. I know I did.

Our job is improving the quality of life, not just delaying death.

Stop being afraid of getting older. With age comes wisdom and confidence.

Self-reliance is the key to a vigorous life. A man must look inward to find his own answers.

The human spirit is more powerful than any drug, and that is what needs to be nourished with work, play, friendship and family. These are the things that matter.

Some are born great. Some achieve greatness. Some get it as a graduation gift.

A human life is just a heartbeat in heaven.

There are three things in this world that you need: Respect for all kinds of life, a nice bowel movement on a regular basis, and a navy blazer.

Robin Williams quotes about love and happiness

I do believe in love; it’s wonderful – especially love third time around, it’s even more precious; it’s kind of amazing.

But if there’s love, dear, those are the ties that bind, and you’ll have a family in your heart, forever.

You don’t know about real loss because it only occurs when you’ve loved something more than you love yourself.

Sometimes you got to specifically go out of your way to get into trouble. It’s called fun.

If Heaven exists, to know that there’s laughter, that would be a great thing.

My children give me a great sense of wonder. Just to see them develop into these extraordinary human beings.

Funny Robin Williams quotes

If women ran the world we wouldn’t have wars, just intense negotiations every 28 days.

Ah, yes, divorce... from the Latin word meaning to rip out a man’s genitals through his wallet.

If it’s the Psychic Network why do they need a phone number?

Why do they call it rush hour if no one moves?

I’m sorry, if you were right, I’d agree with you.

Do you think God gets stoned? I think so… look at the platypus.

You know the difference between a tornado and divorce in the South? Nothing! Someone's losing a trailer, number one.

Divorce is expensive. I used to joke they were going to call it ‘all the money’ but they changed it to alimony.

I love kids, but they are a tough audience.

When I was growing up they used to say, 'Robin, drugs can kill you.' Now that I’m 58 my doctor’s telling me, 'Robin, you need drugs to live.' I realize now that my doctor is also a dealer…

A woman would never make a nuclear bomb. They would never make a weapon that kills, no, no. They’d make a weapon that makes you feel bad for a while.

Wise quotes from Robin Williams

The things we fear the most have already happened to us.

What’s right is what’s left if you do everything else wrong.

Please, don’t worry so much… Because in the end none of us have very long on this earth.

I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself. - from Dead Poets Society

No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.

You have this idea that you’d better keep working otherwise people will forget. And that was dangerous. And then you realize, no, actually if you take a break people might be more interested in you.

Nobody takes a picture of something they want to forget.

Terrible wars have been fought where millions have died for one idea –freedom. And it seems that something that means so much to so many people would be worth having.

Age makes you more confident. When you realize that it’s time now to just do things. When there’s not the pressure to perform on some level of expectations, there’s more to just explore.