July 18: Notable Births, with Quotes
Explore memorable and revealing quotes from public figures, past and present, who were born on July 18.
Vin Diesel, actor (July 18, 1967–present)
“When I was a kid, I used to say, I know as sure as I’m breathing, I am gonna be a movie star.” —Vin Diesel
D’Agostino, Ryan. “Vin Diesel Is 53 and Still Shifting Up.” Men’s Health, June 22, 2021, https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a36663682/vin-diesel-f9-interview/.
“When you grow up in the city, you grow up on public transportation. Now, I was a daredevil, so I actually was a good driver—which doesn’t seem to make sense, but I rode everything with wheels in the most dangerous city in the world. That started with skateboards in the street at five years old, which led to banana-seat bikes, which led ultimately to motorcycles. Nothing makes you a better driver than having to navigate New York City cabs on an XR750.” —Vin Diesel
D’Agostino, Ryan. “Vin Diesel Is 53 and Still Shifting Up.” Men’s Health, June 22, 2021, https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a36663682/vin-diesel-f9-interview/.
Richard Branson, business magnate (July 18, 1950–present)
“When it comes to business, a great name can mean the difference between success and failure. In the early days, we were actually nearly called something else. The leading contender was ‘Slipped Disc Records.’ It would have worked brilliantly for the edgy record label we were, but not perhaps for ‘Slipped Disc Airlines’ — that wouldn’t have worked! Thankfully we ended up choosing Virgin because we were all virgins in business at the time. We’ve never looked back.” —Richard Branson
Bullmore, Joseph. “What we learned from 20 minutes with Richard Branson.” Gentleman’s Journal, https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/article/richard-branson-interview/.
“I believe it’s really important to stand up for what you believe in, especially in the face of adversity. I’ve campaigned all over the world on issues I care deeply about, from ending the war on drugs to prison reform and bringing an end to the death penalty.” —Richard Branson
Bullmore, Joseph. “What we learned from 20 minutes with Richard Branson.” Gentleman’s Journal, https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/article/richard-branson-interview/.
Joe Torre, baseball player and manager (July 18, 1940–present)
“You’re always in the storm’s eye, so to speak, when you’re with the Yankees.” —Joe Torre
King, Larry. “Joe Torre’s New Book.” CNN, January 30, 2009, https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lkl/date/2009-01-30/segment/01.
“I can’t look back on the Yankee years and be bitter. Yes, I was relieved when I left there. But my 12 years experience is wonderful.” —Joe Torre
King, Larry. “Joe Torre’s New Book.” CNN, January 30, 2009, https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lkl/date/2009-01-30/segment/01.
Dick Button, figure skater and analyst (July 18, 1929–present)
“When it comes to watching skating, as the saying goes, it’s all ‘in the eye of the beholder.’ One program excites us; another leaves us cold. But what exactly are we watching? An elite skater moves through a competitive routine at a pace so quick that the virtuosity on display (or not!) can be difficult to see, let alone consciously register and evaluate. Blink, and the move can be over.” —Dick Button
WBUR. “Dick Button Judges Sochi Skating.” WBUR, February 21, 2014, https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2014/02/21/dick-button-skating.
“For more years than I care to count, starting with CBS’s coverage of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley (you do the counting!), I have been an on-air commentator for Olympic and World Championships and assorted other funny games for national TV.” —Dick Button
WBUR. “Dick Button Judges Sochi Skating.” WBUR, February 21, 2014, https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2014/02/21/dick-button-skating.
John Glenn, astronaut and politician (July 18, 1921–December 8, 2016)
“Think what it will be like when we find the answer to cancer and other medical problems. And someday we will land on Mars. And that will be another big step in our movement out into space. And that will have us united as a country.” —John Glenn
Larkin, Brent. “What John Glenn Told National Geographic In His Last Interview.” National Geographic, December 8, 2016, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/john-glenn-interview-astronaut-space.
“A lot of things that happen to the human body as you get old are very similar to what happens to the human body in space—on a more accelerated basis.” —John Glenn
Larkin, Brent. “What John Glenn Told National Geographic In His Last Interview.” National Geographic, December 8, 2016, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/john-glenn-interview-astronaut-space.
Nelson Mandela, activist and politician (July 18, 1918–December 5, 2013)
“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society.” —Nelson Mandela
Winfrey, Oprah. “Oprah Talks to Nelson Mandela.” Oprah.com, April 2001, https://www.oprah.com/world/oprah-interviews-nelson-mandela/all.
“There is nothing I fear more than waking up without a program that will help me bring a little happiness to those with no resources, those who are poor, illiterate, and ridden with terminal disease. If there is anything that will one day kill me, it will be the inability to help them. If I can spend a tiny part of my life making them happy, I’ll be happy.” —Nelson Mandela
Winfrey, Oprah. “Oprah Talks to Nelson Mandela.” Oprah.com, April 2001, https://www.oprah.com/world/oprah-interviews-nelson-mandela/4.
William Makepeace Thackeray, novelist (July 18, 1811–December 24, 1863)
“Are not there little chapters in everybody’s life, that seem to be nothing, and yet affect all the rest of the history?” —William Makepeace Thackeray
Thackeray, William Makepeace. “The Project Gutenberg EBook of Vanity Fair.” Project Gutenberg, September 10, 2015, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/599/599-h/599-h.htm.
“If people only made prudent marriages, what a stop to population there would be!” —William Makepeace Thackeray
Thackeray, William Makepeace. “The Project Gutenberg EBook of Vanity Fair.” Project Gutenberg, September 10, 2015, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/599/599-h/599-h.htm.
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