David Bowie wasn’t just a music icon—he was a master of words. His quotes often carried a razor-sharp wit, unconventional wisdom, and a playful, sarcastic edge. The charm of Bowie’s humor lies in its honesty and ability to twist everyday thoughts into something profound yet amusing.
In this article, we’ve collected 80+ of the best David Bowie quotes, grouped into engaging categories. Whether you’re a fan of his music or just love a clever turn of phrase, you’ll find something here to make you smile, laugh, and maybe rethink a few things.
On Art and Creativity
- “To not be modest about it, you’ll find that with only a couple of exceptions, most of the musicians that I’ve worked with have done their best work by far with me.”
- “(…) never play to the gallery, but you never learn that until much later on, I think. Never work for other people. Always remember that the reason that you initially started working was that there was something inside yourself that you felt that if you could manifest it in some way, you would understand more about yourself and how you coexist with the rest of society. I think it’s terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people’s expectations. I think they generally produce their worst work when they do that.”
- “A song has to take on character, shape, body and influence people to an extent that they use it for their own devices. It must affect them not just as a song, but as a lifestyle.”
- “I’m a person who can take on the guises of people I meet. I’m a collector, and I collect personalities and ideas.”
- “I’m an instant star. Just add water and stir.”
- “Art was, seriously, the only thing I’d ever wanted to own.”
- “Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming.”
- “I’m always amazed that people take what I say seriously. I don’t even take what I am seriously.”
- “The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.”
- “I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human.”
On Fame and Public Image
- “I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman.”
- “I find only freedom in the realms of eccentricity.”
- “I’m always amazed that people take what I say seriously. I don’t even take what I am seriously.”
- “Fame itself… doesn’t really afford you anything more than a good seat in a restaurant.”
- “I’m always the person who doesn’t know the punchline.”
- “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of not trying.”
- “You can neither win nor lose if you don’t run the race.”
- “The truth is that I’m not the kind of person to stand in front of a camera and tell you I’m wonderful.”
- “I’m always going to have a problem with people taking me seriously.”
- “It’s amazing what a few costumes will do for your self-confidence.”
On Music
- “It’s a god-awful small affair to the girl with the mousy hair…”
- “And when the clothes are strewn, don’t be afraid of the room. Touch the fullness of her breast, feel the love of her caress… She will be your living end.”
- “Shoot you down. Bang! Bang!”
- “Look up here, I’m in heaven. I’ve got scars that can’t be seen. I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen. Everybody knows me now.”
- “I don’t know how many times someone has come up to me and said, ‘Hey, let’s dance!’ I hate dancing. God, it’s stupid.”
- “The moment you know you’re not dreaming anymore.”
- “I’m always amazed at how much music can change your perspective on the world.”
- “A song will outlive all sermons in the memory.”
- “If you’re ever sad, listen to your favorite Bowie record backwards—it won’t make sense, but neither does sadness.”
- “Rock ‘n’ roll is the hamburger that ate the world.”
On Life and Philosophy
- “Seeing a man humble himself in his capacity as a worker to somebody else, and having to have that accepted as a given situation.”
- “As you get older you become the person you always should have been.”
- “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”
- “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”
- “I’m always amazed that people believe they have control over their lives.”
- “Time may change me, but I can’t trace time.”
- “Confront a corpse at least once. The absolute absence of life is the most disturbing and challenging confrontation you will ever have.”
- “I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human.”
- “I don’t have stylistic loyalty. That’s why people perceive me changing all the time.”
- “There’s a terror in knowing what the world is about.”
On Humor and Sarcasm
- “I hate dancing. God, it’s stupid.”
- “I’m an instant star. Just add water and stir.”
- “I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man… just a mortal with the potential of a superman.”
- “I’m the laughing gnome, and you can’t catch me!”
- “You wouldn’t believe the number of people who have asked me if I’m Mick Jagger’s brother.”
- “The only art I’ll ever study is stuff that I can steal from.”
- “I’m not a very serious person. I just pretend to be one on stage.”
- “If it works, it’s out of date.”
- “I’m an alligator… well, not really, but it worked in the song.”
- “My entire career, I’ve been running away from being ordinary.”
On Change and Reinvention
- “I re-invented my image so many times that I’m in denial that I was ever in denial.”
- “I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman.”
- “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. Turn and face the strange.”
- “I’m a collection of all the people I’ve met and the things I’ve done.”
- “Every few years I like to cut myself in half and start again.”
- “The only constant in my career is change.”
- “I don’t have stylistic loyalty.”
- “I’ve always found that if I move fast enough, no one can pin me down.”
- “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”
- “I’ve always thrived on change.”
On Love and Relationships
- “The truth is that love is the only thing worth finding.”
- “I’m rather surprised at who I am, because I’m actually like my dad.”
- “As you get older you become the person you always should have been.”
- “There’s nothing quite like the love of a family.”
- “If you fall in love with me, you’re in love with an idea.”
- “I’m always amazed at the people who can make love sound so simple.”
- “I’m in love with life, and life is in love with me.”
- “Love is the answer, but while you’re waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty good questions.”
- “My happiest moments are at home with my family.”
- “Falling in love is wonderful—falling out of love, not so much.”
On Individuality and Self-Expression
- “I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human.”
- “I’m not a very serious person.”
- “I’m a collector, and I collect personalities and ideas.”
- “Never play to the gallery.”
- “I’m comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
- “The minute you know you’re free, you’re not.”
- “It’s terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people’s expectations.”
- “The only thing I really value is my own opinion.”
- “I’ve always been more interested in questions than answers.”
- “The reason you started working was to understand yourself.”
On Legacy
- “I suppose for me as an artist it wasn’t always just about the music.”
- “I want my music to last forever.”
- “I want to be remembered as someone who wasn’t afraid.”
- “In the end, the songs are what will remain.”
- “I hope I left more than I took.”
- “My legacy is my body of work.”
- “I want to inspire people to create their own worlds.”
- “I hope people understand I was trying to make them think.”
- “Every artist leaves ghosts behind.”
- “If my music made someone’s day better, that’s enough.”
Conclusion
David Bowie’s words, like his music, challenge, entertain, and inspire. Whether laced with humor, dripping in sarcasm, or loaded with heartfelt insight, these quotes remind us that creativity and individuality are timeless. Which of these quotes struck a chord with you?
Share your favorites in the comments, tell us how they made you laugh or think, and pass this collection along to friends who could use a little Bowie in their day. Whenever life feels dull, revisit these words—because with Bowie, it’s never boring.