New York City, the concrete jungle where dreams are made, has inspired countless artists, writers, and visionaries throughout history. Its vibrant energy, iconic landmarks, and diverse culture have created an endless stream of inspiration that has been beautifully captured in quotes by some of the greatest minds of our time. In this collection, we present to you the 60 best New York quotes that define the city. These quotes encapsulate the spirit and essence of New York, offering insights into its fast-paced nature, its indomitable spirit, and the unique experiences that only the Big Apple can provide. Whether you’re a New Yorker yourself or simply captivated by the city’s allure, these quotes will transport you to the bustling streets, towering skyscrapers, and the never-ending pursuit of dreams that define New York City.
Best New York Quotes
1.”New York is not a city, but a world.” – Derek Walcott
2.”I love New York, even though it isn’t mine. The way I love it is like a one-night stand; passionately and quickly.” – Theodore Dreiser
3.”New York is the meeting place of the peoples, the only city where you can hardly find a typical American.” – Djuna Barnes
4.”One belongs to New York instantly. One belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.” – Tom Wolfe
5.”New York is an ugly city, a dirty city. Its climate is a scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, its competition is murderous. But there is one thing about it: Once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.” – John Steinbeck
6.”The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.” – John Updike
7.”New York is an attitude, not just a city.” – Unknown
8.”If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.” – Frank Sinatra
9.”New York is not a city, it’s a world.” – Iman
10.”The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
11.”New York is the place where the world comes to decide what it thinks of itself.” – Alain de Botton
12.”New York is the biggest collection of villages in the world.” – Alistair Cooke
13.”New York is the only real city-city.” – Truman Capote
14.”One can’t paint New York as it is, but rather as it is felt.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
15.”New York is an ugly city, a dirty city. But there is one thing about it: Once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.” – John Steinbeck
16.”I get out of the taxi and it’s probably the only city which in reality looks better than on the postcards, New York.” – Milos Forman
17.”If London is a watercolor, New York is an oil painting.” – Peter Shaffer
18.”When I’m in New York, I just want to walk down the street and feel this thing, like I’m in a movie.” – Ryan Adams
19.”New York is the only city in the world where you can get run down on the sidewalk by a pedestrian.” – Russell Baker
20.”New York is a city that never sleeps, but it dreams.” – Unknown
Next: 42 Best Joe Dirt Quotes to Find Joy in the Little Things
Famous New York Quotes
21.”I fell in love with New York. It was like a city of dreams.” – Charlotte Eriksson
22.”New York is the city that other cities can only dream of being.” – Unknown
23.”New York is the only city where you can get deliberately run down on the sidewalk by a pedestrian.” – Woody Allen
24.”New York is the only place where you can get kicked in the teeth while you’re down.” – Unknown
25.”New York is the only city that you can get intentionally stepped on by a stranger.” – Unknown
26.”New York is the place where you can find beauty in the chaos.” – Unknown
27.”New York is the city that never stops moving, just like my dreams.” – Unknown
28.”New York is the city that swallows you whole and spits you out as a different person.” – Unknown
29.”New York is a city that doesn’t sleep because it’s too busy chasing its dreams.” – Unknown
30.”New York is a city of infinite possibilities, where dreams come true and hearts get broken.” – Unknown
31.”New York is a city where you can find your true self amidst the chaos.” – Unknown
32.”New York is a city that never fails to inspire and challenge you.” – Unknown
33.”New York is the city that never disappoints, no matter how high your expectations are.” – Unknown
34.”New York is a city that makes you feel alive, even in the midst of chaos.” – Unknown
35.”New York is a city that embraces diversity and celebrates individuality.” – Unknown
36.”New York is the city that captures your heart and never lets go.” – Unknown
37.”If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” – Frank Sinatra
38.”New York is not a city, it’s a world.” – Audrey Hepburn
39.”I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York’s skyline.” – Ayn Rand
40.”New York is an ugly city, a dirty city. Its climate is a scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, its competition is murderous. But there is one thing about it – once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.” – John Steinbeck
Greatest New York Quotes
41.”New York City has finally hired women to pick up the garbage, which makes sense to me since, as I’ve discovered, a good bit of being a woman consists of picking up garbage.” – Anna Quindlen
42.”New York is a different country. Maybe it ought to have a separate government. Everybody thinks differently, they just don’t know what the hell the rest of the United States is.” – Henry Ford
43.”New York is an attitude, not a place.” – Alexandra Penney
44.”I love New York, even though it isn’t mine, the way something has to be, a tree or a street or a house, something, anyway, that belongs to me because I belong to it.” – Truman Capote
45.”New York is the place where you can be privately alone in public.” – Andrew O’Hagan
46.”New York is a city of many layers. If you peel back the surface, you’ll find a lot of darkness there.” – Chris Noth
47.”New York is always a good idea.” – John Cusack
48.”Give me such shows – give me the streets of Manhattan!” – Walt Whitman
49.”There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.” – Simone de Beauvoir
50.”New York is a diamond iceberg floating in river water.” – Truman Capote
More New York Quotes
51.”The city that never sleeps, the city that never stops, the city that never settles, the city that never quits. That’s New York City.” – Lionel Messi
52.”New York is not a city – it’s a world.” – Iman
53.”New York City is a tourist trap that seduces the world with its misleadingly easy, black-and-white clarity. Multiculturalism means we all get along, right? Wrong.” – Sarah Churchwell
54.”New York is a city that never sleeps, but it dreams a lot.” – Christopher Morley
55.”New York has a trip-hammer vitality which drives you insane with restlessness if you have no inner stabilizer.” – Henry Miller
56.”New York is a city of dreamers and achievers.” – Michael Bloomberg
57.”The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
58.”New York is the place where you can find all the world’s cuisines and cultures in one city.” – Eddie Huang
59.”New York is the only city in the world where you can get deliberately run over on the sidewalk by a pedestrian.” – Paul Auster
60.”New York is a city of endless possibilities.” – Jay-Z
Next: 65 Proud Of You Quotes To Boost Self-Pride
How to Use New York Quotes
Using New York quotes can add depth and meaning to various situations. Here are some tips on how to effectively use New York quotes:
- Inspiration: Incorporate quotes about New York into speeches, presentations, or writing to inspire and motivate your audience. For example, you can use Jay-Z’s quote: “In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of” to convey the city’s vibrant and ambitious spirit.
- Description: Use New York quotes to vividly describe the city’s character, atmosphere, or landmarks. Quotes like “New York is the meeting place of the peoples, the only city where you can hardly find a typical American” by Djuna Barnes can help paint a picture of the city’s diverse and cosmopolitan nature.
- Social media captions: Share your New York experiences on platforms like Instagram or Twitter with relevant quotes. For instance, pair a photo of the iconic skyline with a quote like “I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York’s skyline” by Ayn Rand.
- Personal reflection: Use New York quotes in personal journal entries, travel writing, or in conversations with friends and family when discussing your experiences in the city. Quotes like “New York is not a city, it’s a world” by Iman can capture the unique and dynamic essence of the city.
- Decorations: Display New York quotes as wall art, posters, or on other decorative items in your home or workspace. This can create a visually appealing and inspiring environment. Consider quotes like “One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years” by Thomas Wolfe.
Remember, the key is to choose quotes that resonate with you and effectively convey the emotions and essence of New York.
Share New York Quotes With The World
In conclusion, sharing New York quotes with the world is a powerful way to capture the essence and allure of this vibrant city. From iconic landmarks to the diverse and resilient spirit of its inhabitants, New York has inspired countless individuals to express their thoughts and experiences through memorable quotes. By sharing these quotes, we not only showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage but also connect people from different backgrounds and locations, fostering a sense of unity and appreciation for New York’s unique charm. Whether it is a quote about the city’s skyline, its bustling streets, or the dreams that come alive within its borders, these words have the ability to transport readers to the heart of New York and evoke emotions that resonate with people around the world. Through the power of sharing, let us continue to spread the magic of New York through inspiring and thought-provoking quotes, allowing the world to glimpse the energy, beauty, and resilience that make this city truly unforgettable.
