May 6: Notable Births, with Quotes

Explore memorable and revealing quotes from public figures, past and present, who were born on May 6.

George Clooney, actor (May 6, 1961–present)

“The only way you can honestly talk about things is to include yourself and your shortcomings in those things. Like, when I say ‘Batman & Robin’’s a terrible film, I always go, ‘I was terrible in it.’ Because I was, number one. But also because then it allows you the ability to say, ‘Having said I sucked in it, I can also say that none of these other elements worked, either.’” —George Clooney
Baron, Zach. “George Clooney When We Need Him Most.” GQ, November 17, 2020, https://www.gq.com/story/george-clooney-icon-of-the-year-2020.

“When you struggled for 12 or so years as an actor, when you get in, all you want to do is prove you can act and all the stuff you can do and show off all your tricks. And then as you ease into it, you kind of go, ‘Well, I don’t feel like I have to prove anything anymore.’” —George Clooney
Baron, Zach. “George Clooney When We Need Him Most.” GQ, November 17, 2020, https://www.gq.com/story/george-clooney-icon-of-the-year-2020.

Tony Blair, former prime minister of the U.K. (May 6, 1953–present)

“Brexit is a word most of the country want to forget. Understandably. It was a deeply divisive period. And it is indeed done. The debate about its wisdom is over. But it was a decision of consequence. And that we can’t ignore, no matter how much we want to.” —Tony Blair
Blair, Tony. “Tony Blair Speech: The Future of Britain in an Era of the Three Revolutions.” Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, January 20, 2022, https://institute.global/tony-blair/tony-blair-speech-future-britain-era-three-revolutions.

“The government doesn’t have a post-Brexit regulatory strategy and it is letting passive divergence from EU rule exacerbate costs for businesses for no purpose, deepening an already substantial economic hit from Brexit itself.” —Tony Blair
Blair, Tony. “Tony Blair Speech: The Future of Britain in an Era of the Three Revolutions.” Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, January 20, 2022, https://institute.global/tony-blair/tony-blair-speech-future-britain-era-three-revolutions.

Willie Mays, baseball player (May 6, 1931–present)

“My thing is keep talking and keep moving.” —Willie Mays
Kepner, Tyler. “Willie Mays at 89: ‘My Thing Is Keep Talking and Keep Moving.’” The New York Times, May 13, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/13/sports/baseball/willie-mays-book.html.

“I didn’t like the ballparks in the American League. I thought the National League was stronger than the American League. That’s what I thought.” —Willie Mays
Kepner, Tyler. “Willie Mays at 89: ‘My Thing Is Keep Talking and Keep Moving.’” The New York Times, May 13, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/13/sports/baseball/willie-mays-book.html.

Orson Welles, director and actor (May 6, 1915–October 10, 1985)

“Well, I was always called when I was young as the ‘self-styled genius.’ All I heard about was the self-styled genius. So that’s what I took seriously, that I was styling myself a genius. And you know, anybody can do that.” —Orson Welles
Entertainment Tonight. “Orson Welles Talks Citizen Kane in RARE Interview One Week Before His Death (Flashback).” YouTube, December 5, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2sWHtBzzrs.

“I’ve always hated Hollywood, but I hate almost everything in the modern world.” —Orson Welles
Entertainment Tonight. “Orson Welles Talks Citizen Kane in RARE Interview One Week Before His Death (Flashback).” YouTube, December 5, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2sWHtBzzrs.

Rudolph Valentino, actor (May 6, 1895–August 23, 1926)

“I feel quite unreal.” —Rudolph Valentino
Meares, Hadley Hall. “Unlucky Star: The Brief, Bombastic Life of Rudolph Valentino.” Vanity Fair, September 14, 2021, https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/09/rudolph-valentino-biography-death.

Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis (May 6, 1856–September 23, 1939)

“In psychoanalysis nothing occurs but the interchange of words between the patient and the physician. The patient talks, tells of his past experiences and present impressions, complains, confesses his wishes and emotions. The physician listens, tries to direct the thought processes of the patient, reminds him of things, forces his attention into certain channels, gives him explanations and observes the reactions of understanding or denial which he calls forth in the patient.” —Sigmund Freud
Freud, Sigmund. “The Project Gutenberg EBook of A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis.” Project Gutenberg, December 4, 2011, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38219/38219-h/38219-h.htm.

“It is true that psychoanalysis cannot boast that it has never occupied itself with trifles. On the contrary, the objects of its observations are generally those simple occurrences which the other sciences have thrown aside as much too insignificant, the waste products of the phenomenal world.” —Sigmund Freud
Freud, Sigmund. “The Project Gutenberg EBook of A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis.” Project Gutenberg, December 4, 2011, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38219/38219-h/38219-h.htm.

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