“A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.”
Birthdays are milestones disguised as parties. These quotes capture the joy, nostalgia, and mild existential crisis that can all show up when you add another number. Good for cards, toasts, or just sitting with the strangeness of getting older.
“Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you're exactly the same.”
“A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.”
“My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity for remembering birthdays. I worked at it. Whenever I made a new friend, I made a point of finding out his or her birthday early on, and I would record it in my Filofax calendar.”
“My biggest hero, Gregory Peck, was my birthday present on April 14, 1973. I just sat and stared at him.”
“A friend never defends a husband who gets his wife an electric skillet for her birthday.”
“Interventions are really emotionally exhausting and I would never ever want to have one. In the same way, I would never want to have a surprise birthday party. That would be horrible.”
“The worst part about celebrating another birthday is the shock that you're only as well as you are.”
“I wanted to buy a candle holder, but the store didn't have one. So I got a cake.”
“The Queen of Crafts herself, Martha Stewart, and I have the same birthday. I prefer to think it's the glue-gun wielding, perfect-tart-producing Martha and not the copper pan-throwing, jail-going Martha. But I suppose if I am going to share a calendar square with some of Martha, I have to share it with all of Martha.”
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
“Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you're exactly the same.”
“I tried to bake a cake for my mother's birthday - it took me four hours. It was terrible, and I cried for three days.”
“I'm a summer baby, so I usually have my birthday as a good summer memory.”
“Just hit my 75th birthday, I'm feeling great!”
“I'm over the moon to be involved in the 'Doctor Who' Christmas special. I can't quite believe it as it's a part of the family tradition at the Jenkins household. I heard the news that I got the role on my 30th birthday and it was the best birthday present ever.”
“I'm most comfortable in my birthday suit.”