13 John Lennon Quotes That Are as True Now as They Were Then

John Winston Ono Lennon (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980) was a renowned English singer, songwriter, and musician. Lennon accumulated fame across the globe as the founder, the co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His work included music, writing, drawings, and film. Lennon’s infamous songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney to this day stands as the most successful pairing of all time.

1. On life

A black and white image of the Beatles.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”

2. On aging

An image of John Lennon being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.”

3. On myths

A close-up image of John Lennon being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”

4. On peace

A close-up image of John Lennon being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace.”

5. On being weird

An image of John Lennon being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“It’s weird not to be weird.”

6. On individuality

An image of John Lennon being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“You don’t need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are.”

7. On music

An image of John Lennon being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“Music is everybody’s business. It’s only the publishers who think people own it.”

8. On honesty

A black and white image of John Lennon being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it’ll always get you the right ones.”

9. On the sixties

An image of John Lennon being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“The thing the sixties did was to show us the possibilities and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn’t the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibility.”

10. On genius

An image of John Lennon in sunglasses being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“When I was about twelve I used to think I must be a genius, but nobody’s noticed. If there is such a thing as a genius, I am one, and if there isn’t I don’t care.”

11. On creativity

A close-up image of John Lennon in glasses being interviewed.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“Creativity is a gift. It doesn’t come through if the air is cluttered.”

12. On surrealism

A close-up image of John Lennon looking at the camera with sunglasses on.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“Surrealism had a great effect on me because then I realized that the imagery in my mind wasn’t insanity. Surrealism to me is reality.”

13. On Elvis

An image of John Lennon in sunglasses looking at the camera.
John Lennon/Via YouTube.com

“If there hadn’t been an Elvis, there wouldn’t have been the Beatles.”

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