The Most Momentous Don Draper Quotes

Last updated on Sep 15th, 2023

The Most Momentous Don Draper Quotes

Don Draper is a fictional character and the protagonist of the popular AMC TV series Mad Men, portrayed by Jon Hamm.

Draper is a charming, mysterious, and self-destructive marketing guru with a unique business tactic. At one point, we admire him because of his charisma and genius, but at another, we hate him because of infidelity and alcohol. Maybe his personal life is not ideal, but when it comes to business, he always comes up with the perfect solution.

No matter what, we can learn much from Don Draper through his quotes on business, marketing, and life in general.

Here are some of the most momentous Don Draper quotes.

Table of Contents
  1. Don Draper Famous Lines
  2. Don Draper Quotes about Life
  3. Don Draper Quotes on Advertising
  4. Don Draper Success Quotes
  5. Don Draper Quotes on Change

Don Draper Famous Lines

You-are-born-alone-and-you-die-alone-and-this-world-just-drops-a-bunch-of-rules-on-top-of-you-to-make-you-forget-those-facts.
1

You’re born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts.S1.Ep1: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

It-was-not-a-lie,-it-was-ineptitude-with-insufficient-cover.
2

It wasn’t a lie, it was ineptitude with insufficient cover.S1.Ep3: Marriage of Figaro

Mourning-is-just-extended-self-pity.
3

Mourning is just extended self-pity.S1.Ep6: Babylon

People-want-to-be-told-what-to-do-so-badly,-that-theyll-listen-to-anyone.
4

People want to be told what to do so badly, that they’ll listen to anyone.S1.Ep6: Babylon

You-will-realize-in-your-private-life-that-at-a-certain-point-seduction-is-over-and-force-is-actually-being-requested.
5

You will realize in your private life that at a certain point seduction is over and force is actually being requested.S1.Ep8: The Hobo Code

There-is-no-big-lie.-There-is-no-system.-The-universe-is-indifferent.
6

There is no big lie. There is no system. The universe is indifferent.S1.Ep8: The Hobo Code

The-day-you-sign-a-client-is-the-day-you-start-losing-them.
7

The day you sign a client is the day you start losing them.S1.Ep10: Long Weekend

Our-worst-fears-lie-in-anticipation.
8

Our worst fears lie in anticipation.S3.Ep5: The Fog

You-are-good.-Get-better.-Stop-asking-for-things.
9

You’re good. Get better. Stop asking for things.S3.Ep7: Seven Twenty Three

The-truth-is-people-may-see-things-differently,-but-they-do-not-really-want-to.
10

The truth is people may see things differently, but they don’t really want to.S3.Ep10: The Color Blue

Is-that-what-you-want-Or-is-that-what-people-expect-of-you
11

Is that what you want? Or is that what people expect of you?S4.Ep3: The Good News

The-best-idea-always-wins,-and-you-know-it-when-you-see-it.
12

The best idea always wins, and you know it when you see it.S4.Ep7: The Suitcase

They-say-as-soon-you-have-to-cut-down-on-your-drinking,-you-have-a-drinking-problem.
13

They say as soon you have to cut down on your drinking, you have a drinking problem.S4.Ep8: The Summer Man

People-tell-you-who-they-are,-but-we-ignore-it,-because-we-want-them-to-be-who-we-want-them-to-be.
14

People tell you who they are, but we ignore it, because we want them to be who we want them to be.S4.Ep8: The Summer Man

You-want-some-respect-Go-out-there-and-get-it-for-yourself.
15

You want some respect? Go out there and get it for yourself.S4.Ep8: The Summer Man

We-are-flawed-because-we-want-so-much-more.-We-are-ruined-because-we-get-these-things-and-wish-for-what-we-had.
16

We’re flawed because we want so much more. We’re ruined because we get these things and wish for what we had.S4.Ep8: The Summer Man

We-are-gonna-sit-at-our-desks-and-keep-typing-while-the-walls-fall-down-around-us,-because-we-are-creative.-The-least-important-most-important-thing-there-is.
17

We’re gonna sit at our desks and keep typing while the walls fall down around us, because we’re creative. The least important most important thing there is.S4.Ep12: Blowing Smoke

Find more about Don Draper on Amazon

Sometimes-we-do-not-get-to-choose-where-our-talents-lie.
18

Sometimes we don’t get to choose where our talents lie.S5.Ep8: Lady Lazarus

But-what-is-happiness-Its-a-moment-before-you-need-more-happiness.
19

What is happiness? It’s a moment before you need more happiness.S5.Ep12: Commissions and Fees

You-can-not-tell-people-what-they-want.-It-has-to-be-what-you-want.
20

You can’t tell people what they want. It has to be what you want.S7.Ep6: The Strategy

Everybody-has-problems.-Some-people-can-deal-with-them-and-some-people-can-not.
21

Everybody has problems. Some people can deal with them and some people can’t.S7.Ep10: The Forecast

Don Draper Quotes about Life

I-am-living-like-theres-no-tomorrow,-because-there-is-not-one.
22

I’m living like there’s no tomorrow, because there isn’t one.S1.Ep1: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

Its-your-life.-You-do-not-know-how-long-its-gonna-be,-but-you-know-its-got-a-bad-ending.
23

It’s your life. You don’t know how long it’s gonna be, but you know it’s got a bad ending. You have to move forward. As soon as you figure out what that is.S2.Ep9: Six Month Leave

There-will-be-fat-years,-and-there-will-be-lean-years,-but-it-is-going-to-rain.
24

There will be fat years, and there will be lean years, but it is going to rain.S3.Ep1: Out of Town

When-a-man-walks-into-a-room,-he-brings-his-whole-life-with-him.-He-has-a-million-reasons-for-being-anywhere.
25

When a man walks into a room, he brings his whole life with him.S4.Ep8: The Summer Man

Don Draper Quotes on Advertising

Advertising-is-based-on-one-thing-happiness.
26

Advertising is based on one thing: happiness. And you know what happiness is? Happiness is the smell of a new car. It’s freedom from fear. It’s a billboard on the side of the road that screams with reassurance that whatever you’re doing, it’s okay. You are okay.S1.Ep1: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

What-you-call-love-was-invented-by-guys-like-me,-to-sell-nylons.
27

What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons.S1.Ep1: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

The-greatest-thing-you-have-working-for-you-is-not-the-photo-you-take-or-the-picture-you-paint
28

The greatest thing you have working for you is not the photo you take or the picture you paint. It’s the imagination of the consumer. They have no budget. They have no time limit. And if you can get into that space, your ad can run all day.S6.Ep4: To Have and to Hold

Don Draper Success Quotes

Success-is-related-to-standing-out,-not-fitting-in.
29

Success is related to standing out, not fitting in.S2.Ep1: For Those Who Think Young

Even though success is a reality, its effects are temporary.
30

Even though success is a reality, its effects are temporary.S5.Ep12: Commissions and Fees

Don Draper Quotes on Change

Change-is-neither-good-or-bad,-it-simply-is.
31

Change is neither good or bad, it simply is.S3.Ep2: Love Among the Ruins

If-you-do-not-like-what-is-being-said,-then-change-the-conversation.
32

If you don’t like what is being said, change the conversation.S3.Ep2: Love Among the Ruins