New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world, it is a fast-paced city with a whirlwind of fun activities, famous buildings, and historic neighborhoods.
Famous artists, musicians, and writers have put their feelings into words about this magnificent city. We have brought to you 15+ famous NYC quotes that are guaranteed to make you fall deeper in love with this city.
Best NYC Quotes for NYC Lovers
1. New York as Home
“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much as in five minutes as in five years.”
A quote by American novelist Thomas Wolfe showcases his love for NYC. The city has a warm, welcoming, and friendly vibe for everyone which feels like home.
2. New York Has Hopes
“London is satisfied, Paris is resigned, but New York is always hopeful. Always it believes in something good is about to come off, and it must hurry to meet it.”
One of the more famous NYC quotes by writer Dorothy Parker talks about how New York is a city that is always glowing and growing; it never rests.
The city always inspires its people, encourages them to be hopeful each day, and be ready to meet something great that is coming their way.
3. New York World
“New York is not a city. It’s a world.”
New York isn’t like any other city because it is like the world itself, it is one of the world’s largest natural harbors.
This commercial and financial center opens up to people a world full of opportunities to fulfill their sparkling dreams.
4. People of New York
“My favorite thing about New York is the people because I think they are misunderstood. I don’t think people realize how kind New York people are.”
This quote is by American actor, writer, and comedian Bill Murray. And as Murray said, New Yorkers are amazing.
Although the city seems to be too busy, the people are very nice and kind to each other – unlike those ads where you find them rude and abrasive.
5. Vibe in New York
“There is something in New York air that makes sleep useless.”
This one was by French writer Simone de Beauvoir when she visited New York for the first time. She felt the city’s energy in its air that made sleep useless because the city was always awake and bustling.
6. New York Is Where Your Heart Is
“If you follow your heart just right, it will get you to New York City.”
New York City is a city of the people and for the people. The city can turn out to be what your heart desires.
So if you listen to your heart, it will probably lead to the world’s greatest city, New York, if you follow what it wants.
7. Beauty of New York
“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.”
Written by American novelist and screenwriter Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, this quote expresses the raw scenic beauty of the city seen from atop the Queensboro Bridge.
8. New York Mark
“Make your mark in New York, and you’re a made man.”
This one is prevalent among NYC quotes written by Mark Twain. It is often said that if someone can make it in New York, then they can make it anywhere else in the world.
This is because, in New York, people do not work to live but live to work. When it comes to working and making money, the competition is rough. It is a battleground at every step you take.
9. No Place Else Like New York
“Once you’ve lived in New York and it has become your home no place else is good enough.”
This one is by American author John Steinbeck. John Steinbeck was in love with New York being the liveliest and most vibrant city it is, it surely gets difficult to find someplace else like that.
New York is certain to make you fall head over heels in love with its charm. And once you’ve wholeheartedly made New York your home, you may never find any other place good enough.
10. New York: A City That Never Stops
“I look out the window and I see the lights and the skyline and the people on the street rushing around looking for action, love, and the world’s greatest chocolate chip cookie, and my heart does a little dance.”
This is one of the best NYC quotes of all time, written by an American journalist, Nora Ephron, expressing what New York is all about.
People in New York are always in a rush. Some follow their dreams, and some are looking out for love or happiness of their own. Everyone is doing something or the other.
The city never actually stops, even when the world is asleep. And to get a glimpse of such a sight is a beautiful experience that you will cherish forever.
11. New York Is Love
“Quite simply, I was in love with New York. I do not mean ‘love’ in any colloquial way, I mean that I was in love with the city, the way you love the first person who ever touches you and you never love anyone quite that way again.”
As American writer Joan Didion said, “Quite simply, I was in love with New York.” It is very true once you are in love with New York, the city will always have a place in your heart that you can never find a replacement for.
It’s the magic of the city that you cannot forget after knowing it.
12. New York as the Center of the World
“New York is the place to be; to go to New York, you’re going to the center of the world, the lion’s den.”
New York is a place for the tough-minded. So in New York, it is like getting into the lion’s den.
You have to fight against all odds to make your place, just like you must fight the lion if you want to survive in his den.
13. New York- Life and Dream
“Somewhere between living and dreaming, there’s New York.”
Well, New York, indeed, is a dream city. If you are living there, you can happily say you are living your dream.
There’s a reason why New York is called the City of Dreams. It is perfect for students, artists, entrepreneurs, and everyone.
14. Incomparable New York
“Whoever is born in New York is ill-equipped to deal with any other city: all other cities seem, at best, a mistake, and, at worst, a fraud. No other city is so spitefully incoherent.”
This is one of the favorite NYC quotes of New Yorkers written by James Baldwin. For the people born in New York, the deal is east or west. Their city is the best.
15. Belonging to New York
“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.”
Writer Truman Capote loved New York as much as anything else that belonged to him, this is what New York does to people.
People who love New York once want to belong to New York as much as New York belongs to them.
Some Funny NYC Quotes
Let’s now take a look at some of the funniest NYC quotes.
- “When it’s 100 degrees in New York, it’s 72 in Los Angeles. When it’s 30 degrees in New York, in Los Angeles, it’s still 72. However, there are 6 million interesting people in New York and only 72 in Los Angeles.”
If you are looking for funny NYC quotes, this is the one to read by Neil Simon.
New York City is known for its people’s smartness and intellect. You will find more interesting people here than elsewhere because it is a very populous city.
- “The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.”
Well, after all, New Yorkers believe their city to be the best of the best. It has the best public transportation, central park, weather, location, food, safety, and diversity. You name it, and New York has it.
- “Anytime four New Yorkers get into a cab together without arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place.”
Well, fighting over taxis or cabs is a long-time tradition on the streets of New York. Words turn into fights for “who got there first” or “who needs the cab.”
- “In New York, most people don’t have cars, so if you want to kill a person, you have to take the subway to their house. And sometimes, on the way, the train is delayed, and you get impatient, so you have to kill someone on the New York subway. That’s why there are so many subway murders; no one has a car.”
This one is by American comedian George Carlin. Well, Carlin was right to say so because New York is one of those places where a good number of people do not have cars at all.
Closing Thoughts
And that’s 19 of the best NYC quotes.
New Yorkers and most people who have ever been to New York can deeply relate to these quotes because these words aren’t just any quotes but are genuine feelings of people who have lived in New York.
Some may call it an ugly city, some a dirty city but no one can deny it is an evergreen exciting city that is worth exploring for everyone. The Big Apple is not the only city of the dream but the city of pride for many, who don’t believe us believe Scott Fitzgerald or Ryan Adams.
USA Tales would love to know which is your favorite from the 15+ Top Funny New York quotes list. Also, if the above-mentioned York City quotes missed out on any great ones, comment below!
Happy reading!
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