Theme Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old theme quotes, theme sayings, and theme proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

The theme of Death is to Poetry what Mistaken Identity is to Drama. Dannie Abse
Pick a theme and work it to exhaustion... the subject must be something you truly love or truly hate. Dorothea Lange
There is no reason why challenging themes and engaging stories have to be mutually exclusive - in fact, each can fuel the other. Edward Zwick
If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by other people's past histories. Douglas Kennedy
A theme of digital success is keeping it simple. Walter Isaacson
The theme of old age doesn't seem to fascinate Hollywood. John Updike
A strong theme is always running through a well-told story. Andrew Stanton
A running theme in my life is my inability to say no to anything. David Pogue
A musical theme once exhausted, finds its due refuge and repose in silence. Henri-Frédéric Amiel
A theme is always necessary, a plain, simple, unadorned theme to confuse the ignorant. Lillian Hellman
The theme of the Bible is not that the world's not messy but that God's at work in the mess. Matt Chandler
There is a theme that runs through my work, and that is: the toxic property of keeping secrets. Joyce Maynard
If a theme or idea is too near the surface, the novel becomes simply a tract illustrating an idea. Elizabeth Bowen
If the theme is simple, you can include a hundred details that create the illusion of actuality better. Satyajit Ray
If there is one abiding theme in the gym, it's the withering work in the ring. Those not fit do not survive. Emanuel Steward
A key theme is that human history, behavior and reality are governed not by what we know but by what we believe. Richard B. Spence
The overall theme of theology can be twofold: the search for meaning and the responsibility one has to the others. Namsoon Kang
One of the great themes in American literature is the individual's confrontation with the vast open spaces of the continent. Justin Cronin
There are some themes, some subjects, too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children's book. Philip Pullman
A recurring theme in the literature of secular humanism is the harsh assault upon traditional religion, especially Christianity. Guenter Lewy
There are certain themes of which the interest is all-absorbing, but which are too entirely horrible for the purposes of legitimate fiction. Edgar Allan Poe
They say great themes make great novels. but what these young writers don't understand is that there is no greater theme than men and women. John O'Hara
Two increasing themes which appear to dominate our listening, reading and watching lives are propaganda and 'national security', or manufactured war. John Pilger
These are the themes in life which are consistent in Judaism, Islam, Hinduism - of being grounded in who you are and being engaged in an unjust world. Cory Booker
The theme, or harmony, of a painting can be created by any one of its visual elements. A single colour... repetition of shapes... Light can be a theme. Mike Svob
A theme that appears repeatedly in the writings of the social critics of the second half of the 20th century is the sense of purposelessness that afflicts many people in modern society. Theodore Kaczynski
Themes of redemption, temptation, and faith don't necessarily apply directly to religion. A lot of people find faith in their lives outside of God and still deal with notions of temptation and redemption that aren't religious. Will Poulter
You can't tell any kind of a story without having some kind of a theme, something to say between the lines. Robert Wise
If there's an enduring theme in my work, it's probably the effects of class on American life. Richard Russo
Exploit a subject or a theme to its greatest potential by bringing all possible reference to bear - then put aside the reference and create again using the potential of your unfettered imagination. Robert Genn