50 of the most inspiring and impactful reggae quotes, many from iconic artists like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, and others who have shaped reggae’s message of love, unity, resistance, and hope:
50 Inspiring & Impactful Reggae Quotes
Bob Marley: “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
Bob Marley: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.”
Bob Marley: “Love the life you live. Live the life you love.”
Peter Tosh: “You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”
Burning Spear: “The more people smoke the more Babylon provoke.”
Bob Marley: “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul; wisdom is better than silver or gold.”
Peter Tosh: “Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I’ll feel alright.”
Bob Marley: “In this bright future, you can’t forget your past.”
Dennis Brown: “If you get down and quarrel everyday, you’re saying prayers to the devil, I say.”
Bob Marley: “When one door is closed, don’t you know, another is open.”
Gregory Isaacs: “The only way to be happy is to forgive.”
Bob Marley: “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.”
Peter Tosh: “I am the people. I am the roots, the foundation.”
Bob Marley: “Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?”
Jimmy Cliff: “Many people think that reggae is only about music, but reggae is a culture, a way of life.”
Bob Marley: “Overcome the devils with a thing called love.”
Burning Spear: “Don’t you feel like crying sometimes? Don’t you feel like dying sometimes? Come on and share my little tears, I’ve been crying for a long, long time.”
Bob Marley: “Live for yourself and you will live in vain; live for others, and you will live again.”
Peter Tosh: “Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!”
Bob Marley: “The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.”
Toots Hibbert: “Pressure, pressure, pressure, no more, no more!”
Bob Marley: “Judge not before you judge yourself.”
Buju Banton: “Music is a weapon, it can be used to uplift or tear down.”
Bob Marley: “None but ourselves can free our minds.”
Peter Tosh: “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Bob Marley: “Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.”
Burning Spear: “The people’s army is here.”
Bob Marley: “Don’t worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing is gonna be alright.”
Gregory Isaacs: “Love is a message, love is a feeling.”
Bob Marley: “Live in love, live in peace, live in unity.”
Peter Tosh: “We’re tired of your foolishness and your exploitation.”
Bob Marley: “If you get down and quarrel every day, you’re saying prayers to the devil, I say.”
Alton Ellis: “I’m still in love with you, and I will be until the end of time.”
Bob Marley: “The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off.”
Ziggy Marley: “The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments.”
Bob Marley: “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.”
Peter Tosh: “Freedom is the only thing that matters.”
Bob Marley: “Give people love, and they will return love.”
Burning Spear: “Education is the weapon, the greatest weapon to change the world.”
Bob Marley: “Better to die fighting for freedom than be a prisoner all the days of your life.”
Gregory Isaacs: “If you have love in your heart, you have everything.”
Bob Marley: “One love! One heart! Let’s get together and feel all right.”
Peter Tosh: “Babylon system is the vampire.”
Bob Marley: “My music fights against the system that teaches to live and die.”
Burning Spear: “Roots, culture, and tradition are the foundation of our identity.”
Bob Marley: “When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself.”
Peter Tosh: “You can’t hide from Jah.”
Bob Marley: “If you know what life is worth, you will look for yours on Earth.”
Dennis Brown: “Love is the key to life.”
Bob Marley: “In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty.”
