California is a destination known for Hollywood, celebrities, fame, and fortune. With so many California sayings and quotes about California, we wanted to share the ones that we found most interesting.
Some of these quotes were said by famous Californians like Marilyn Monroe or Walt Disney, while others are from celebrities who have visited, such as John Lennon.
Quotes About California
From the perspective of some musicians and authors, California is an idea that’s so powerful it can be represented in music. Some artists use this as a metaphor for how people dream of life and success.
From other perspectives, though, you might see this state as nothing more than just another place with beautiful landscapes and great weather.
The state is often used as a symbol of the “American Dream” in music videos and films. Others still may view it negatively or satirically to lampoon their state’s stereotypes about tourism.
The following are the most famous quotes about California sourced from a variety of sites. Most of these quotes are from best-selling books, movies, and songs. For more interesting reads, check out fun facts about California too.
- “Dean’s California — wild, sweaty, important, the land of lonely and exiled and eccentric lovers come to forgather like birds, and the land where everybody somehow looked like broken-down, handsome, decadent movie actors.”
— Jack Kerouac, “On the Road”
- “If you’ve had good gin on a hot day in Southern California with the people you love, you forget Nebraska. The two things cannot coexist. The stronger, better of the two wins.”
― Ann Patchett, The Magician’s Assistant
- “California, still a magical vanity fair.”
― Eileen Granfors
- “I’m your biggest fan, California, I’m coming home.”
– Joni Mitchell, ‘California’
- “We only have two kinds of weather in California, magnificent and unusual.”
– James M Cain
- “California, where the spring comes in the fall and the fall comes in the summer and the summer comes in the winter and the winter never comes at all.”
– Inez Haynes Irwin
- “Best way to live in California is to be from somewhere else.”
― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men
- “California: bordering always on the Pacific and sometimes on the ridiculous. So, why do I live here? Because the sun goes down a block from my house.”
— George Carlin
- “Everything is just better in California – the wine, the food, fruits and vegetables, the comforts of living. Even the instrumentalists are generous and curious. Everything is wonderful.”
– Beth Anderson
- “In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.”
— Denzel Washington
- “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
- “Whether they’re for good or bad, all trends in the United States start in California.”
– Steve Schmidt
- “She stood there bright as the sun on that California coast.”
— Bob Seger, ‘Hollywood Nights’
California Quotes from Songs + Poems
Here are some famous quotes about California from songs, poems, and other mediums.
- “You could travel the world, but nothing comes close to the golden coast.”
— Katy Perry, California Girls
- “The City of Angels where I have my fun
Don’t wanna die young
When I’m gone, remember all I’ve done”
― 24KGoldn, City of Angels
- “I just found out her ghost left town, the Queen of California is stepping down.”
— John Mayer, ‘Queen of California’
- “Hey here’s to you California
Beautiful haze of suburbia
Living in the perfect weather
Spending time inside together
Hey here’s to you California….”
― Blink-182, California
- “Made up my mind to make a new start, going to California with an aching in my heart.”
— Led Zeppelin – Going to California
- “All the things that we’ve been through,
The distance between me and you,
Can’t keep me from loving you
When times get hard know in the end,
That you’ll still be my everything,
I’m so in love with you
Oh California,
I’ve been MIA, but I’m on my way
Back home…. “
― The After Party, California
- “California Knows how to Party.”
― 2Pac
“We’ve been on the run
Driving in the sun
Looking out for number one
California here we come
Right back where we started from“
― Phamtom Planet, The OC Theme song
Famous California Sayings
Sayings are anonymous expressions of wisdom that are often passed down from person to person. Sayings can be about any topic, but we found the following sayings about California to be most interesting. These sayings and catch-phrases are specific to the state and can only be understood by the people who live here.
“Don’t California my Texas!”
This saying is a play on words that can be used to mean several things depending upon the context in which it’s said. In general, though, this phrase means “don’t mess with me.” It could also imply an insult if someone from another state tried to compare their home state as being just as good or better than California.
“She’s a poor man’s Texas, she’s a rich man’s Mexico.”
This saying is used to describe the state of California as being inconsistent and having qualities of both good and bad. It can also be interpreted in different ways, but generally speaking, this phrase means that California is a place where people from all walks of life can come and find opportunities.
“As goes California, so goes the nation.”
This California saying has been used for decades to describe how California is a bellwether state for national politics. What happens in California usually predicts what will happen on a national level. This phrase was made popular in the early 20th century and it’s still relevant today.
“I’m going to California, I’m gonna be a star.”
This phrase is often used by people who are moving to California in order to achieve their dreams. It speaks to the idea that California is a place where anyone can become successful if they work hard enough. This saying originated in the song “The House of the Rising Sun,” and has been repeated by countless people who want to make it big in Hollywood.
“June Gloom”
This saying is used to describe overcast weather conditions that happen in the middle of summer. This happens when low-pressure systems drift into California and bring cool air along with them for a few days at a time.
“Hella”
‘Hella’ is a saying in California that means ‘very.’ Such as: “it’s hella hot outside,’ or ‘that was hella cool.’ But, the MOST important thing to know about using this word is that Northern Californians LOVE it (and use it all the time) and Southern Californians HATE it (and wouldn’t be caught dead saying it). So if you want to use this saying, use it in NorCal!
California Captions for Instagram
- “If you can’t find it in California, it probably doesn’t exist.”
- “Soak up the sun in beautiful California, and die broke.”
- “If you don’t like the weather in California, wait five minutes.”
- “If you’re not living in California, you’re not living.”
- “California dreaming on a beach with you.”
- “The best part of waking up is the Californian sun in my eyes.”
- “Paradise found: living the dream in sunny California.”
- “Golden State of Mind”
- “My California love affair.”
- “California, the place where dreams come true.”
- “Sanctuary from the cold: living in sunny California.”
- “Exploring everything that California has to offer.”
- “California dreamin’ on such a winter’s day.”
Quotes + Captions About San Francisco
I have an entire California Quotes article dedicated to San Francisco. Read it below!
Quotes + Captions About Los Angeles
You guessed it – I also have a whole post about Los Angeles Quotes, famous sayings, and Instagram captions. Check it out below.
Do you have a favorite quote about California or California Instagram captions that we missed? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear your thoughts.
More on California:
- Unique Places to Stay in California: Cool + Unusual Accommodation/Hotels
- Best Sunsets in San Fransicso
- Unique Stays in Joshua Tree
- Fun Facts about San Francisco
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.