New York Quotes: A Collection of Timeless City Sayings

New York City, often referred to as the “concrete jungle,” has always been a source of inspiration for many artists, authors, and musicians. As a melting pot of art, culture, beauty, and history, it’s no surprise that countless quotes have been written to capture the essence of the city. From its iconic skyline to the constant hustle and bustle, New York City comes alive through these words.

You’ll find that many quotes about New York City embrace the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who call it home. Whether you’re new to this captivating city or a long-time resident, these quotes will remind you of the energy, passion, and resilience that make it truly one of a kind.

As you explore a collection of New York quotes, you’ll find a mix of humor, admiration, and reflection. Dive into the words of famous authors, musicians, and artists who have been touched by the magic of NYC, and allow yourself to be inspired by the city that never sleeps.

Quote List 1 – 25

Here’s a collection of inspirational and famous quotes about New York City.

1. “New York has romanced me unlike anything else.” – Blake Lively
2. “This isn’t a fairytale. It’s New York City.” – Alex Flinn
3. “When you leave New York you ain’t going anywhere.” – Jimmy Breslin
4. “There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.” – Simone de Beauvoir

New York has always been a city that inspires dreams and creativity.

5. “Somewhere between living and dreaming, there’s New York.”
6. “There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.” – Dorothy Parker
7. “New York is the only real city-city.” – Truman Capote
8. “It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.” – Agatha Christie

The city has always been a haven for artists and writers.

9. “I love New York because within its borders you can travel the world.” –John Steinbeck
10. “New York is the only city in the world where you can get deliberately run down in the street by a yellow truck with “Safeway Supermarket” written on the side, and no one will care.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Some of the city’s most iconic quotes touch on the magnitude and magic of Central Park.

11. “I have always loved Central Park; for me, it has always been the focus of everything I love about the city: the green lungs of the dream city.” – Truman Capote
12. “I love Central Park. I spent an entire day there when I was 14 and called it my Harry day. Central Park is amazing because you leave the city and you’re suddenly in the wilderness.” – Bill Murray

New York’s influence on music, food, and fashion is seen in quotes from icons like Joan Didion and Lady Gaga.

13. “New York is my Lourdes, where I go for spiritual refreshment… a place where you’re least likely to be bitten by a wild goat.” – Joan Didion
14. “I’m just trying to change the world, one sequin at a time.” – Lady Gaga

The city’s knack for welcoming people from all walks of life is evident in quotes from artists like James Baldwin and Walt Whitman.

15. “I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for that reason, I insist in the right to criticize her perpetually.” – James Baldwin
16. “Give me such shows! give me the streets of Manhattan!” – Walt Whitman

New York is known for its late nights, which Johnny Carson and Kurt Vonnegut capture eloquently in their words.

17. “Nothing could be better after a long day than a cold beer and a warm television.” – Johnny Carson
18. “New York City is a thousand different things to ten million different people in a thousand different countries, but they all agree on one thing: New York is the only city that means something to everybody.” – Kurt Vonnegut

Lastly, New York is a powerful symbol of dreams and aspirations, expressed by individuals like Iman and Russell Baker.

19. “In all the world, there is no place like New York. At any given moment, anything can happen. I suppose that’s the dream.” – Iman
20. “The only thing I miss about New York is the food. I’m a little homesick at the moment for a pastrami on rye with mustard and sauerkraut. The secret is at the 2nd Avenue Deli.” – Russell Baker

Quote List 26 – 50

In this section, we’ve gathered some more New York quotes that will make you fall in love with the city all over again. Enjoy this list of quotes from famous personalities about the Big Apple.

26. The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. – Ayn Rand
27. I love that about New York: You just dress the way you want to dress and feel really comfortable because nobody is judging. You can just be yourself, and it’s perfectly normal. – Henrik Lundquist
28. In New York, you’re forced to deal with life; it’s there in front of you on a daily basis. – Lindsey Kelk
29. One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years. – Tom Wolfe
30. I can’t with any conscience argue for New York with anyone. It’s like Calcutta. But I love the city in an emotional, irrational way, like loving mother or a lover. – Nora Ephron
31. There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless. – Simone De Beauvoir
32. If you want to become a real New Yorker, there’s only one rule: You have to believe New York is, has been, and always will be the greatest city on earth. The center of the universe. – Ellen R. Shapiro
33. 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
34. New York is really the place to be; to go to New York, you’re going to the center of the world, the lion’s den. – Zubin Mehta
35. In New York, they like winners. They don’t like second place. – Eli Manning
36. A true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding. – John Updike
37. You can do what you like, sir, but I’ll tell you this. New York is the true capital of America. Every New Yorker knows it, and by God, we always shall. – Edward Rutherfurd
38. There’s no place like this. It’s just fabulous, like a dream come true. I think of fantastical things that happened to me in New York City and how I ended up here… and it’s just amazing. – Fran Lebowitz
39. New York is not a city. It’s a world. – Iman
40. You’re going to make it happen. This is New York. – Nina Harkavy
41. There is more sophistication and less sense in New York than anywhere else on the globe. – Don Herold
42. Every true New Yorker believes with all his heart that when a New Yorker is tired of New York, he is tired of life. – Robert Moses
43. Each neighborhood has its own beauty & idiosyncrasies that spark creativity. – Arthur Barnes
44. Somewhere between living and dreaming, there’s New York. – Theodore Dreiser
45. The city that never sleeps is where dreams are made in an engaged blur of opportunity. – Karl Lagerfeld

Quote List 51 – 75

New York City, also known as the Big Apple, has inspired countless people over the years. Here’s a list of quotes that capture the essence of the city, its unique atmosphere, and the experiences one can have in this bustling metropolis.

51. You can’t really experience New York City if you don’t ride the clattering subway beneath its streets.
52. “The most fascinating thing about New York City is its people,” says Agatha Christie.
53. Le Corbusier, the famous architect, once said, “New York is not a city; it’s a world.”
54. Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City muses, “In New York, you’re always searching for something new, for that magical feeling.”
55. Film director Milos Forman perfectly caught the city’s spirit with this quote: “New York is not a city, it’s an energy.”

Let’s continue with some quotes that capture the essence of the city and its memorable landmarks:

56. Alicia Keys contributed to the great list of NYC quotes when she sang, “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of.”
57. “When you leave New York, you ain’t going anywhere,” notes Jimmy Breslin.
58. “One belongs to New York instantly; one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years,” stated famous writer Tom Wolfe.
59. Renowned poet Allen Ginsberg once said, “Whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture, especially in New York City.”
60. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, quipped, “I love New York City because it’s the only city where I don’t feel homesick.”

Next, some quotes highlighting the city’s resilience and the attitude of its inhabitants:

61. “New Yorkers are tough, but they’re also the first to help out when someone is in need,” mused a New York People observer.
62. As a testament to the city’s enduring spirit, F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time.”
63. Walt Whitman, famous American poet, wrote: “Give me the streets of Manhattan! I’m restless in the midst of this teeming hive.”
64. Legendary musician Frank Sinatra contributed to the list of quotes about New York City by singing, “New York, New York, it’s a heck of a town!”
65. John Updike, celebrated American author, wrote: “The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.”

Finally, a few quotes that evoke the city’s pace and energy:

66. Photographer Bill Cunningham said, “Folks would be in despair all over the place if it weren’t for New York City.”
67. Edna St. Vincent Millay, a famous poet, captured the city’s vibrant energy when she wrote, “The rush and the race, the pace that kills.”
68. Mae West once shared, “I love New York City because it’s the first city to really let you be yourself.”
69. E.B. White, the renowned essayist, wrote, “New York is the concentrate of art and commerce and sport and religion and entertainment, all brought to a focus where the real and the synthetic both meet.”
70. “Times Square is where the world comes to celebrate,” observed former mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Quote List 76 – 100

In this section, enjoy a selection of quotes about the magnificent New York City, its skyline, well-known landmarks such as the Queensboro Bridge, and iconic figures who have shared their thoughts about this concrete jungle.

You’ll find interesting insights on the similarities and differences between the city and other famous cities such as London and Paris. So let’s dive into these NYC quotes that capture the diverse perspectives on the city that never sleeps.

76. New York City, the capital of America, is as much a mystery as it is a jungle of concrete. Ellen R. Shapiro
77. I go to Paris, I go to London, I go to Rome, and I always say, “There’s no place like New York. It’s the most exciting city in the world now. That’s the way it is. That’s it.” Robert De Niro
78. The streets of New York are never silent, just like the city’s heartbeat, always vibrant and full of life. Frank Sinatra
79. A walk down Fifth Avenue is like a journey through the wonders of Greenwich Village where every corner has a story to tell. Taylor Swift
80. Tip the world over on its side, and everything loose will land in New York City. Frank Lloyd Wright
81. New York is not a city, it’s a world, with its own skyline that takes your breath away. Billy Joel
82. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen the Queensboro Bridge light up the night like a beacon of hope. Frank Sinatra
83. Times Square – the heart of New York City – beating with energy and life, making the city always feel alive. Ellen R. Shapiro
84. London might be royalty, and Paris might be love, but New York City is the essence of all dreams. Taylor Swift
85. There’s something in the New York air that makes sleep useless. Simone de Beauvoir

So, from famous quotes by Robert De Niro to Taylor Swift and Frank Sinatra, these selections offer a glimpse into the world of New York City, its captivating skyline, iconic landmarks, and the unique experiences of living in this place. Enjoy reflecting on these quotes and let the Big Apple’s spirit inspire you.