May 12: Notable Births, with Quotes
Explore memorable and revealing quotes from public figures, past and present, who were born on May 12.
Tony Hawk, skateboarder and entrepreneur (May 12, 1968–present)
“I’m happy if whatever I’ve done has raised the profile of skating and has maybe changed the stigma that skating is for outcasts, losers and whatnot.” —Tony Hawk
Holt, Brianna. “‘I’m way older, but I’m still doing it’: Tony Hawk on his skateboarding legacy.” The Guardian, May 24, 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/24/tony-hawk-skateboarding-legacy-interview
“There’s a machine that goes along with celebrity, where people just fabricate a certain persona and they put it out there and that’s what you’re led to believe they are.” —Tony Hawk
Holt, Brianna. “‘I’m way older, but I’m still doing it’: Tony Hawk on his skateboarding legacy.” The Guardian, May 24, 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/24/tony-hawk-skateboarding-legacy-interview
George Carlin, comedian and actor (May 12, 1937–June 22, 2008)
“Self-expression is a hallmark of an artist, of art, to get something off one’s chest, to sing one’s song. So that element is present in all art. And comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts—it’s a vulgar art, it’s one of the people’s arts, it’s the spoken word, the writing that goes into it is an art form—it’s certainly artistry.” —George Carlin
Dixit, Jay. “George Carlin’s Last Interview.” Psychology Today, June 23, 2008, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brainstorm/200806/george-carlins-last-interview
“Comedy’s all about comparisons and contrasts and congruities and incongruities and heightenings and understatement and exaggeration.” —George Carlin
Dixit, Jay. “George Carlin’s Last Interview.” Psychology Today, June 23, 2008, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brainstorm/200806/george-carlins-last-interview
Burt Bacharach, composer (May 12, 1928–present)
“I thought songs were so simple that I could do five of them a day, but songs that sound simple are deceptive. It’s a very complicated process.” –Burt Bacharach
Simpson, Dave. “Burt Bacharach: Marlene Dietrich’s music sucked! But I liked her.” The Guardian, May 21, 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/21/30-minutes-with-burt-bacharach-interview
“Fortunately, I learned how to orchestrate. So when I write, I’m usually hearing what the song is and the orchestration. So something like ‘Walk on By’: as I’m writing that, I’m hearing the flugelhorn, which became identifiable.” –Burt Bacharach
Simpson, Dave. “Burt Bacharach: Marlene Dietrich’s music sucked! But I liked her.” The Guardian, May 21, 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/21/30-minutes-with-burt-bacharach-interview
Yogi Berra, baseball player and manager (May 12, 1925–September 22, 2015)
“A lot of people try to say Yogi-isms. I don’t even know I say them myself.” —Yogi Berra
MLB, “Yogi Berra talks about his famous Yogi-isms.” YouTube, September 23, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qX0G3rsUuk
“When you come to the fork in the road, take it.” —Yogi Berra
MLB, “Yogi Berra talks about his famous Yogi-isms.” YouTube, September 23, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qX0G3rsUuk
Katharine Hepburn, actress (May 12, 1907–June 29, 2003)
“I always drive a Hispano-Suiza.” —Katharine Hepburn
Collier’s. “A Mind of Her Own.” OldMagazineArticles.com, http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/early_Katherine_Hepburn_interview-pdf
“I have no sympathy for any of us, none, except for the women who stay at home and take care of the children and do things that don’t add to their ego.” —Katharine Hepburn
Diane Sawyer. “Katharine Hepburn interview with Diane Sawyer 1989.” YouTube, December 29, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfYs9cck0xs
Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing (May 12, 1820–August 13, 1910)
“The old Romans were in some respects I think superior to us. But they had no idea of being good to the sick and weak. That came in with Christianity. Christ was the author of our profession. We honour Christ when we are good Nurses.” —Florence Nightingale
Nightingale, F. “Letter to Nursing Students: 28 May 1900.” UNC Libraries, https://exhibits.lib.unc.edu/exhibits/show/nightingale/nursing-students
“Nursing is become a profession. Trained Nursing no longer an object but a fact. But, oh, if home Nursing could become an everyday fact here in this big city of London, the biggest in the world, in an island the smallest inhabited island in the world.” —Florence Nightingale
Nightingale, F. “Letter to Nursing Students: 28 May 1900.” UNC Libraries, https://exhibits.lib.unc.edu/exhibits/show/nightingale/nursing-students
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