31 Significant Bob Marley Quotes

Last updated on Feb 5th, 2024

31 Significant Bob Marley Quotes

Robert Nesta Marley (born February 6, 1945, Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica – died May 11, 1981, Miami, Florida, U.S.), known as Bob Marley, was a Jamaican reggae singer, musician, and songwriter. As one of the pioneers of reggae, Marley is one of the most responsible for popularizing the genre outside of Jamaica. He was also a committed member of the Rastafari movement.

Marley started his music career with a few singles before he and his friends formed a group named Wailers. After the breakup of the band, Marley continued his solo career. In 1977, he released the album Exodus, which earned him a worldwide reputation and made him one of the best-selling artists, with sales of more than 75 million records. Today, Exodus is considered one of the best albums ever made.

Bob Marley achieved many accomplishments and awards during his lifetime. Some are Band of the Year in 1976, Peace Medal of the Third World in 1978, and Jamaican Order of Merit. He was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994, while his album Exodus was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine. The song One Love was declared Song of the Millennium by the BBC.

Table of Contents
  1. Famous Bob Marley Quotes
  2. Bob Marley Quotes on Music
  3. Bob Marley Quotes about Life
  4. Bob Marley Inspirational Quotes
  5. Positive Bob Marley Quotes
  6. Bob Marley Quotes about Love and Truth
  7. No Source

Famous Bob Marley Quotes

Don't gain the world and lose your soul. Wisdom is better than silver and gold. - Bob Marley Quotes
1

Don’t gain the world and lose your soul. Wisdom is better than silver and gold.Zion Train, from the album Uprising (1980)

Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny. - Bob Marley Quotes
2

Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny.Zimbabwe, from the album Survival (1979)

In this great future, you can't forget your past. - Bob Marley Quotes
3

In this great future, you can’t forget your past.No Woman, No Cry, from the album Natty Dread (1974)

If you know your history, then you would know where you coming from, then you wouldn't have to ask me, who the heck do I think I am. - Bob Marley Quotes
4

If you know your history, then you would know where you coming from, then you wouldn’t have to ask me, who the heck do I think I am.Buffalo Soldier, from the album Confrontation (1983)

Prejudice is a chain, it can hold you. If you prejudice, you can't move, you keep prejudice for years. Never get nowhere with that. - Bob Marley Quotes
5

Prejudice is a chain, it can hold you. If you prejudice, you can’t move, you keep prejudice for years. Never get nowhere with that.Interview by Karl Dallas, Rock's Backpages Audio, July 1975

Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be all right. - Bob Marley Quotes
6

Don’t worry about a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.Three Little Birds, from the album Exodus (1977)

You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice. - Bob Marley Quotes
7

You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.Twitter post by @bobmarley from March 17, 2018

Man is a universe within himself. - Bob Marley Quotes
8

Man is a universe within himself.Twitter post by @bobmarley from September 24, 2014

When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself. - Bob Marley Quotes
9

When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself.Twitter post by @bobmarley from May 21, 2012

Alcohol make you drunk, man. It don't make you meditate, it just make you drunk. Herb is more a consciousness. - Bob Marley Quotes
10

Alcohol make you drunk, man. It don’t make you meditate, it just make you drunk. Herb is more a consciousness.As recorded in filmed interview (1979) with Dylan Taite in Aotearoa, New Zealand

We don't have education, we have inspiration; if I was educated I would be a damn fool. - Bob Marley Quotes
11

We don’t have education, we have inspiration; if I was educated I would be a damn fool.As recorded in Time Will Tell (1992), a documentary by Declan Lowney

Judge not, if you're not ready for judgment. - Bob Marley Quotes
12

Judge not, if you’re not ready for judgment.Judge Not (single, 1962)

It is better to live on the house top than to live in a house full of confusion. - Bob Marley Quotes
13

It is better to live on the house top than to live in a house full of confusion.Running Away, from the album Kaya

Bob Marley Quotes on Music

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. - Bob Marley Quotes
14

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.Trenchtown Rock, from the album Live! (1975)

My music fights against the system that teaches to live and die. - Bob Marley Quotes
15

My music fights against the system that teaches to live and die.As quoted in: Bob Marley (Virgin, 1997). And also in: The African Guardian, 1986

My music will go on forever. Maybe it's a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever. - Bob Marley Quotes
16

My music will go on forever. Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.Bob Marley - June, 1975

Bob Marley Quotes about Life

Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living? - Bob Marley Quotes
17

Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?Exodus, from the album Exodus (1977)

Find more about Bob Marley on Amazon

My riches is life forever. - Bob Marley Quotes
18

My riches is life forever.Interview for the Australian TV show 60 Minutes by George Negus (1978)

Life is one big road with lots of signs. - Bob Marley Quotes
19

Life is one big road with lots of signs.Wake Up and Live!, from the album Survival (1979)

Your life is worth much more than gold. - Bob Marley Quotes
20

Your life is worth much more than gold.Jamming, from the album Exodus (1977)

What important is man should live in righteousness, in natural love for mankind. - Bob Marley Quotes
21

What important is man should live in righteousness, in natural love for mankind.Interview by Karl Dallas, Rock's Backpages Audio, July 1975

Bob Marley Inspirational Quotes

Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. - Bob Marley Quotes
22

Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality.Wake Up and Live!, from the album Survival (1979)

Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind. - Bob Marley Quotes
23

Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind.Redemption Song, from the album Uprising (1979)

Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight. - Bob Marley Quotes
24

Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight.Get Up Stand Up, from the album Burnin' (1973)

You not supposed to feel down over whatever happen to you. You're supposed to use whatever happen to you as some type of upper, not a downer. - Bob Marley Quotes
25

You not supposed to feel down over whatever happen to you. You’re supposed to use whatever happen to you as some type of upper, not a downer.Interview by Karl Dallas, Rock's Backpages Audio, July 1975

Positive Bob Marley Quotes

The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. - Bob Marley Quotes
26

The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.Twitter post by @bobmarley from July 14, 2012

When one door is closed don't you know, other is open? - Bob Marley Quotes - Bob Marley Quotes
27

When one door is closed don’t you know, other is open?Coming in from the Cold, from the album Uprising (1980)

Say you just can't live that negative way, If you know what I mean; Make way for the positive day. - Bob Marley Quotes
28

Say you just can’t live that negative way, If you know what I mean; Make way for the positive day.Positive Vibration, from the album Rastaman Vibration (1976)

Bob Marley Quotes about Love and Truth

Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for. - Bob Marley Quotes
29

Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.Bob Marley (Songbook): Guitar Chord Songbook (ed. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2011)

Tell the children the truth. - Bob Marley Quotes
30

Tell the children the truth.Babylon System, from the album Survival (1979)

Truth is the light so you never give up the fight. - Bob Marley Quotes
31

Truth is the light so you never give up the fight.Final jamming of Live at the Roxy (recorded 1976)

No Source

1

If something can corrupt you, you’re corrupted already.No source

2

You entertain people who are satisfied. Hungry people can’t be entertained – or people who are afraid. You can’t entertain a man who has no food.No source

3

The good times of today, are the sad thoughts of tomorrow.No source

4

Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.No source

5

Money can’t buy life.No source