July 21: Notable Births, with Quotes

Explore memorable and revealing quotes from public figures, past and present, who were born on July 21.

Jon Lovitz, comedian and actor (July 21, 1957–present)

“Dana Carvey is one of my best friends. He’s a great stand-up. He said that the most important thing for being on stage is to have fun and set up the topic in as few words as possible. Then stay on topic and do a lot of jokes before you switch to another topic.” —Jon Lovitz
Yolles, Julie Smith. “Q&A with Comedian Jon Lovitz.” The Detroit Jewish News, March 13, 2020, https://thejewishnews.com/2020/03/13/qa-with-comedian-jon-lovitz/.

“I really feel that anti-Semitism is on the rise because I think that people misunderstand what the Jewish religion is about. I’ve had people say to me, ‘Oh, you think you’re better than someone else because you’re the “chosen people?”’ And they resent it. It’s a misuse and misinterpretation of the word ‘chosen.’ I don’t think Jews are the chosen people. They’ve ‘chosen’ to follow the Ten Commandments. You’ve ‘chosen’ to respect people, life, plants and animals.” —Jon Lovitz
Yolles, Julie Smith. “Q&A with Comedian Jon Lovitz.” The Detroit Jewish News, March 13, 2020, https://thejewishnews.com/2020/03/13/qa-with-comedian-jon-lovitz/.

Robin Williams, comedian and actor (July 21, 1951–August 11, 2014)

“Women are incredibly intuitive. If anybody on the planet is going to evolve to the next level, that telekinetic thing, women will.” —Robin Williams
Interview. “Life Lessons from Robin Williams.” Interview, April 26, 2021, https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/life-lessons-from-robin-williams.

“All I need is books and more computer games. I don’t want any more land.” —Robin Williams
Interview. “Life Lessons from Robin Williams.” Interview, April 26, 2021, https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/life-lessons-from-robin-williams.

Garry Trudeau, cartoonist (July 21, 1948–present)

“You can’t exaggerate the importance of novelty in jumpstarting a career.” —Garry Trudeau
Kalish, Jon. “‘I Just Followed My Interests’: Garry Trudeau On 50 Years Of ‘Doonesbury.’” NPR, January 13, 2021, https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/954095569/i-just-followed-my-interests-garry-trudeau-on-50-years-of-doonesbury.

“I would say that Zonker is probably the Snoopy of Doonesbury. I don’t draw him any differently, haven’t given him any gray hair. I allow him to be kind of forever young, although he has become a little bit more responsible now that he’s running a business.” —Garry Trudeau
Kalish, Jon. “‘I Just Followed My Interests’: Garry Trudeau On 50 Years Of ‘Doonesbury.’” NPR, January 13, 2021, https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/954095569/i-just-followed-my-interests-garry-trudeau-on-50-years-of-doonesbury.

Cat Stevens, singer and songwriter (July 21, 1948–present)

“My first guitar was an eight-quid Eko made in Italy. It was pretty cheap and didn’t sound that great, either. All the problems you have learning the guitar were quadrupled by the fact it had such a high action, and I didn’t understand what strings to use or what gauge. So I was trying to keep my fingers down and make the notes as clear as possible.” —Cat Stevens
Dickson, Jamie. “Yusuf/Cat Stevens: ‘Even today, I’m shy of playing in front of someone like Paul Simon because I never learned anything properly.’” Guitar World, February 22, 2021, https://www.guitarworld.com/features/yusufcat-stevens-even-today-im-shy-of-playing-in-front-of-someone-like-paul-simon-because-i-never-learned-anything-properly.

“Even today, I’m shy of playing in front of someone like Paul Simon because I never learned anything properly. But the way I did it was kind of unique and that’s why I suppose it works in my songs.” —Cat Stevens
Dickson, Jamie. “Yusuf/Cat Stevens: ‘Even today, I’m shy of playing in front of someone like Paul Simon because I never learned anything properly.’” Guitar World, February 22, 2021, https://www.guitarworld.com/features/yusufcat-stevens-even-today-im-shy-of-playing-in-front-of-someone-like-paul-simon-because-i-never-learned-anything-properly.

Ernest Hemingway, novelist (July 21, 1899–July 2, 1961)

“I can’t stand it to think my life is going so fast and I’m not really living it.” —Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway, Ernest. “The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Sun Also Rises.” Project Gutenberg, January 10, 2022, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/67138/67138-h/67138-h.htm.

“You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.” —Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway, Ernest. “The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Sun Also Rises.” Project Gutenberg, January 10, 2022, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/67138/67138-h/67138-h.htm.

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