Remembering Robin Williams: Honor his legacy with these quotes

Today marks the seven-year anniversary of actor Robin Williams’s tragic passing, where the beloved star of many cherished properties took his own life for reasons we’re still unsure of. Robin Williams was simply one of a kind, a man who embodied more than just an actor, kind of like Tom Hanks, serving as a TV & film dad that would provide so many wonderful cinematic moments which we could hold onto for the rest of our lives.

It was on August 11th, 2014, when we received the devastating news that Robin Williams, the star of many cherished films such as Mrs.Doubtfire, Hook, Bicentennial Man, and other movies passed away, and it’s as heartbreaking today as it was the moment we heard for the first time. That being said, even though Robin Williams is no longer here, he left us with enough memories so that we may forever honor him. 

Specifically, while many of the characters that he played ring true to the very hard to Robin Williams, it is the quotes that he left behind that make us remember just how special this actor was for many of us. Whether it be quotes from some of his classic films or simply quotes that he gave us from Robin Williams the human, his words will live on far past the man who said them, as they remind us why we adored Robin so much. 

Robin speaks from the heart

“You’re only given one little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” 

In a quote that almost sounds like it came from the very feather of Lewis Carroll, Robin Williams exemplifies his eccentric personality and his gentle soul, highlighting that it is truly originality & personality that can carry a career as extraordinary as his. Robin’s creative genius stemmed from his one little spark of madness, a spark that turned into a grand fire that would last for more than forty years. 

Dead Poets Society

“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”

In a film that would highlight the dramatic side of Robin Williams’s impressive acting chops gave us a quote that resonates true to Robin’s spirit today. Robin Williams never shied away from any opportunity to seize the day, and while his character in Dead Poets Society might have preached the idea of carpe diem, the very concept truly came from the heart of Robin Williams himself. 

Jack

“Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you’re ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day, make a wish, and think of me. Make your life spectacular.”

This haunting quote from Jack was used in many Robin Williams memorial tributes & montages after his passing, serving as an eerie reminder that life is much shorter than we treat it, and that not a single moment should be taken for granted. Again, haunting seems to be the appropriate word to describe how much this quote embodies Robin’s life, as we truly thought he would be with us forever.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

“Smile my boy . . . it’s sunrise.” 

While Robin Williams would make a couple of small appearances in some straight to DVD releases after his death, many fans accepted his role as Theodore Roosevelt in the third installment of the Night at the Museum franchise as his final goodbye to fans. It was almost as if Robin Williams was speaking to us directly through his character, as he looked toward the camera, smiled and turned to wax forever.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience, and it wasn’t because of the context of the film. It’s because somehow, director Shawn Levy magically captured an unexpected farewell from Robin Williams, speaking to those almost as if he was letting us know that he’d be all right. It was as beautiful as it was tragic, but it’s a moment we will hold onto for the rest of our lives. 

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These quotes by Robin Williams remind us that he was not one in a million or even one in a billion. He was just one. There will never be another one like him, and these quotes by Robin Williams prove why the man was as talented as he was extraordinary. Care to share some of your favorite quotes by Robin Williams? Please feel free to drop them in the comments below.