Esse quam videri. To be, rather than to seem.

THE CAROLINAS QUOTATION LIBRARY

Two Carolinas.
A world of voices.

Writers, dreamers, trailblazers and everyday wisdom. Explore the voices of North and South Carolina, with a source behind every cited quotation.

Start withCharles Kuralt Nina Simone Thomas Wolfe

8,147 quotations from 741 people tied to North and South Carolina, among them 356 Carolinians by birth or residence.

Fields near Black Mountain, North Carolina, 1939. Marion Post Wolcott. Library of Congress, public domain.

Choose your Carolina

THE TAR HEEL STATE

North Carolina

From the Blue Ridge to the Outer Banks.

649 connected voices · 7,935 quotations THE PALMETTO STATE

South Carolina

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry.

122 connected voices · 416 quotations

THE WORDS WE PASS DOWN

“Might could.” “Sigogglin’.”

Explore North Carolina sayings, local expressions, and everyday wisdom, with meanings and sources.

Explore sayings & expressions

THE PLACES BEHIND THE WORDS

Every town has a story.

Explore 1,378 historic map sets across 247 Carolina towns and cities.

Find your hometown

Where to begin

Explore books and library collections →

Born, raised or resident 356 with roots in either Carolina Institutional connections 385 through education, work, office or a town’s name By decade and form Speeches, letters and interviews, 1500s to now The names on the map Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greensboro: who they were named for

A little inspiration

The Senate itself is the greatest of institutions, but I know we can do better.

Then's when we'd tell the old tales about Jack. Why, them kids would work for hours and never a sound out of them, long as I'd keep telling them tales.

The year I spent as a reporter was marvelous for me! It took me out of a genteel world, gave me enlightening glimpses into how things went on.

I always try to tell our players that someone is watching everyone, and somebody is watching them.

The forgotten man remained forgotten. The aristocratic scheme of education had passed him by. To a less extent, but still to the extent of hundreds of thousands, the ecclesiastical scheme had passed him by.

And I think they played for enjoyment, rather than for money, and that’s how they kept it alive.

Show me another

NOW IN THE LIBRARY

Meet South Carolina

Novelists and jazz pioneers. Artists, educators and voices for change.

Pat Conroy Literature · Beaufort Viola Davis Acting · St. Matthews James Brown Music · Barnwell Stephen Colbert Comedy · Charleston Sarah Grimké Reform · Charleston Dizzy Gillespie Jazz · Cheraw Septima Clark Education · Charleston Mary Jackson Sweetgrass basketry Philip Simmons Ironwork · Charleston William Gibson Literature · Conway

Explore South Carolina

More North Carolina voices

Literature, music, civil rights and public life. Discover the latest additions.

Reynolds Price Literature Lee Smith Literature Ella Baker Civil rights Jaki Shelton Green Poetry Doc Watson Music Etta Baker Music Doris Betts Literature Fred Chappell Poetry Terry Sanford Public life Richard Petty Racing

Most quoted Carolinians

Everyone in the dictionary

Every voice has a place. Every quotation has a story.

Follow a quotation to its source, discover a writer's connection to either Carolina, or explore the people behind the names on the map.

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