This past year, we have mourned the loss of comedy legends Carson and Pryor, the mother of the U.S. civil rights movement, a pope who reached out to the world like no pope before him, and a number of other literary, political and entertainment celebrities.
In tribute to the notable figures we’ve lost this year, here’s a glimpse back at some of the more memorable quotes from personalities, now departed, who have helped to shape our world.
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From the comedy stage ...
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"If I had given as much to marriage as I gave to The Tonight Show, I'd probably have a hell of a marriage."
-- Johnny Carson (1925-2005)
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"There were shows I never remember, towns I never knew I was in. Somehow I was always able to perform. I respect performing too much ever to do a bad show." "
-- Richard Pryor (1940-2005)
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"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it."
-- Mitch Hedberg (1968-2005)
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"I still think of myself as I was 25 years ago. Then I look in a mirror and see an old bastard and realize it's me."
-- Dave Allen (1936-2005)
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From the writers’ guild ...
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"I wouldn't recommend sex, drugs or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me."
-- Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005)
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"You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write."
-- Saul Bellow (1915-2005)
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"Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets."
-- Arthur Miller (1915-2005)
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"Until you value yourself, you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it."
-- M. Scott Peck (1936-2005)
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From the TV and movie archives ...
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"Captain, we're losing power to the warp engines."
-- James Doohan (1920-2005), as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on Star Trek
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"Missed me by THAT much."
-- Don Adams (1923-2005), as Maxwell Smart, on TV’s Get Smart
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"The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they're too old to do it."
-- Anne Bancroft (1931-2005)
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""No such thing, bad student. Only bad teacher."
-- Pat Morita (1932-2005), as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid
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"I am a man of few words, but many riddles."
-- Frank Gorshin (1934-2005), as The Riddler on TV’s Batman (1966-68)
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"It was the mid-'70s when I realized it wasn't going off the air... I certainly didn't set out to have a series rerun forever, but it's not a bad experience at all."
-- Bob Denver (1935-2005)
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"Surfing is out of this world. You just can't imagine the thrill of shooting the curl. It positively surpasses every living emotion I've ever had."
-- Sandra Dee (1944-2005), as Gidget in Gidget
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Business and politics ...
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"I'm not a slave to objectivity. I'm never quite sure what it means. And it means different things to different people."
-- Peter Jennings (1938-2005)
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"Unemployment is of vital importance, particularly to the unemployed."
-- Edward Heath (1916-2005)
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"If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit."
-- Johnnie Cochran (1937-2005)
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"Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision."
-- Peter Drucker (1909-2005)
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Active citizens and leaders ...
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