real quotes

No, Thomas Edison did not write that.

/ Sue Brewton / Leave a comment

Today’s post is about an inspirational quote that is often misattributed to Thomas Edison.  Follow along to learn who really wrote it as well as who is spreading this false information.

The Misattributed Quote Variations in Order of Popularity

✘“Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.  What you are will show in what you do.”
Thomas Edison

✘“Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.  What you are will show in what you do.”
William Davidson

✘“Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.  What you are will show in what you do.”
Albert Einstein

The overwhelming majority of attributions are to Thomas Edison.  I found only a couple of attributions for the other two people.  Also, half of the websites featuring this misquote do not include the second sentence.  The ones that do include it usually separate it as another individual quote.

The Correct Quote

✓“Your worth consists in what you are, and not in what you have.  What you are will show in what you do.”
Thomas Davidson (1840–1900)
May 31, 1899 letter to the class in history and social science in the Educational Alliance, New York, NY
The Education of the Wage-Earners, Chapter V

Here is the quote found in The Education of the Wage-Earners by Thomas Davidson published posthumously in 1904 and edited by Charles M. Bakewell.

The Quote Found in 'The Education of the Wage-Earners' by Thomas Davidson

The Quote Found in The Education of the Wage-Earners by Thomas Davidson

Here is the title page.

Title Page of 'The Education of the Wage-Earners' by Thomas Davidson

Title Page of The Education of the Wage-Earners by Thomas Davidson

Here is the table of contents.

'The Education of the Wage-Earners' Table of Contents

The Education of the Wage-Earners Table of Contents

Statistics

After surveying 110 websites featuring today’s misquote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
35%    Quotes only
22%    Informational
17%    Social media
16%    Corporation/corporate individual
4%     Quotes a major feature
2%     Online app or service
2%     Quotes paraphernalia for purchase
2%     Topical group or discussion forum

Quote Websites Are the Main Source of Today’s Misquote

The above statistics show that websites with the sole purpose of providing quotes are the largest group propagating today’s misquote.  If we combine them (35%) with the websites that provide quotes as a major part of their functionality (4%), we find that 39 percent of the websites perpetuating this misinformation are major quote repositories.  As we’ve seen so many times with my previous posts, this is the norm.  Unfortunately, the number of quote websites is growing exponentially.  I find new ones rearing their ugly heads each time I research a quote.  I’ve also noticed these sites are duplicates of each other and often feature the same misquotes AND typos.  This continual spread of misquotes is what I call a quote virus.  The problem is many educators and authors use these websites as a resource for quotes and subsequently teach and/or publish this false information.  The end result is infection of educational institutions and modern literature.  In short, quote websites are breeding grounds for the quote virus and should be avoided at all costs.

Informational Websites Are Another Source of Today’s Misquote

The above statistics also show that informational websites are another major contributor to the proliferation of today’s misquote.  For example, during my research I came across a website called The Fact File which purports to provide facts on various topics.  One of the “facts” featured on this website is today’s misquote. . . Strike one.  Out of curiosity, I looked at the list of Leonardo da Vinci “facts” and found the misquote I wrote about in my 11/30/15 post No, Leonardo da Vinci did not write that. . . Strike two.  I also checked the Abraham Lincoln “facts,” and sure enough the misquote I wrote about in my 01/31/16 post No, that is not what Abraham Lincoln said is listed.  Strike three!

The bottom line is don’t believe everything you read on the internet, even if the site presents itself as an authority on a particular topic.

Modern Books Are Another Source of Misquotes

During my research, I found 10 books featuring today’s misquote, and three of them are quote books.  In fact, one of them is a book strictly about Thomas Edison quotes and facts.  The one thing all of them have in common is the quote is cited with a name attribution only.  This is an indication that it was probably not fact-checked.  If there is no accompanying source information that is verifiable, the quote is not trustworthy.

Possible Causes of Misattribution

My first guess as to how this misattribution was formed is confusion created by the similarity of the names, Thomas Edison and Thomas Davidson.

My second guess is the close proximity these two names would have with each other in an alphabetized list.  One possible scenario is a quote website administrator was copying quotes from an alphabetized list in which Thomas Davidson occurred just prior to Thomas Edison, and when the list transitioned from Davidson to Edison, the transcriptionist made an error and did not double check to ensure the quote entered corresponded with the correct person.  Subsequently, others came along and transmitted this misinformation to others who transmitted it to others ad infinitum.  I have encountered this alphabetical pattern on quote websites many times.  My 03/31/15 post Edith Wharton vs. Edgar Watson Howe vs. Elbert Hubbard and my 07/17/14 post Kennedy Morphs into Keats: Another Reason to Get Your Inspirational Quotes from a Reliable Source are two more examples of this phenomenon.

Most Amusing Find

I came across a newsletter dated May 28, 2015 which features our Thomas Edison misquote on the front page.  The amusing part is the newsletter is for the Thomas Edison Energysmart Charter School.  Once again, we see an informational resource that is reporting false information.  This demonstrates how pervasive the quote virus is and reinforces the message that you cannot believe everything you read on the internet.

Most Disappointing Find

My research also brought me to a Virginia community newspaper website that featured an article about the 2015 commencement exercises at a local high school.  In her speech to the graduating class, the principal used Edison’s misquote.  The irony is the name of the school is Thomas A. Edison High School.  Unfortunately, when the source of information is an educator, the perception of credibility is high.  In this case, the educator is from a school named after Edison so the perception of credibility for this quote is even higher.  This is why I am always disappointed when misquotes infect our educational institutions.  The possibility of the false information propagating increases dramatically.

Let’s Kill the Quote Virus Together

The only way to exterminate the quote virus is through education.  You can help by sharing the knowledge.  Forward this post to friends and family, and if you’re on Facebook, “like” my Facebook fan page.  If you’re on Twitter, you can follow me @SueBrewton.

Until next time,

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

No, Leonardo da Vinci did not write that either.

/ Sue Brewton / Leave a comment

Today’s post is about a popular quote that is often misattributed to Leonardo da Vinci.  Read on to discover who really wrote it and who is spreading this misinformation.

The Misattributed Quote

✘“There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see.”
Leonardo da Vinci

The Correct Quote Variations

Because this quote was originally written in Italian in the 16th century, it has been translated into English many times by many different translators resulting in many variations.   I am listing five variations below, but this is not a comprehensive list.

✓“There are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others.”
Niccolò Machiavelli
The Prince, Chapter XXII, page 181 (London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, 1908)
Translated by W. K. Marriott

The Quote Translated by W. K. Marriott

The Quote Translated by W. K. Marriott
The Prince, Chapter XXII, page 181 (London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, 1908)

✓“There are three different kinds of brains, the one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others.”
Niccolò Machiavelli
The Prince, Chapter XXII, page 92 (London: Grant Richards, 1903)
Translated by Luigi Ricci

The Quote Translated by Luigi Ricci

The Quote Translated by Luigi Ricci
The Prince, Chapter XXII, page 92 (London: Grant Richards, 1903)

✓“There are three scales of intelligence, one which understands by itself, a second which understands what is shown it by others, and a third which understands neither by itself nor on the showing of others.”
Niccolò Machiavelli
The Prince, Chapter XXII, page 172 (London: Oxford University Press, 1913)
Translated by Ninian Hill Thomson

The Quote Translated by Ninian Hill Thomson

The Quote Translated by Ninian Hill Thomson
The Prince, Chapter XXII, page 172 (London: Oxford University Press, 1913)

✓“In the capacities of mankind there are three degrees: one man understands things by means of his own natural endowments; another understands things when they are explained to him; and a third can neither understand them of himself, nor when they are explained by others.”
Niccolò Machiavelli
The Prince, Chapter XXII, page 477 (London: George Bell & Sons, 1909)
Translated by unknown

The Quote Translated by Unknown

The Quote Translated by Unknown
The History of Florence and The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli, page 477 (London: George Bell & Sons, 1909)

✓“There are three kinds of mind: the first grasps things unaided; the second when they are explained; the third never understands at all.”
Niccolò Machiavelli
The Prince, Chapter XXII (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988)
Translated by Russell Price

I cannot provide an image due to copyright restrictions; however, the book can be found on Amazon.com.

Statistics

After surveying 110 websites featuring today’s misquote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
31%    Quotes only
26%    Social media
15%    Corporation/corporate individual
15%    Informational
4%     Quotes a major feature
4%     Quotes paraphernalia for purchase
3%     Topical group or discussion forum
1%     Online app or service
1%     Academic/educational/school

Quote Websites Are the Main Source of Today’s Misquote

The above statistics show that websites with the sole purpose of providing quotes are the largest group propagating today’s misquote.  If we combine them (31%) with the websites that provide quotes as a major part of their functionality (4%), we find that 35 percent of the websites perpetuating this misinformation are major quote repositories.  Once again, we see that quote websites are not reliable sources for quotes.  The vast majority of them feature data that is not fact-checked.  Consequently, they are a key contributor to the spread of misquotes throughout cyberspace and modern literature.  Avoid them at all costs.

Social Media Is Another Source of Today’s Misquote

The above statistics also indicate that social media websites play a major role in the proliferation of today’s misquote.  The user interactions that occur on social media create an environment that is conducive to the rapid spread of misinformation.  Much like a virus, when one person posts an infected quote, all of his/her followers get it, and all of their followers get it and so on and so forth.  The next thing you know we have a pandemic on our hands.  And when that happens, untruths become “facts” which ultimately make their way into our culture and academia.  My 12/31/15 post “No, Clara Barton did not write that” is an example of this.

Possible Cause of Today’s Misquote

There is another variation of today’s quote found in the novel The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci (1902) by Dimitri Merejkowski.  Below is the quote found in Book XII, chapter IV on page 328.  Note the verb “see” is used, similar to the misquote.

The Quote Translated by Herbert Trench from the Russian of Dimitri Merejkowski

The Quote Translated by Herbert Trench from the Russian of Dimitri Merejkowski
The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci, Book XII, Chapter IV, page 328 (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904)

Here is the title page:

Title Page of 'The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci' by Dimitri Merejkowski

Title Page of The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci by Dimitri Merejkowski

The pink highlight on the quoted page indicates that Merejkowski clearly wrote that it is Machiavelli who says the quote.  The question is how did Machiavelli get replaced by da Vinci in the misquote?  My guess is that somewhere in time some quote hunter found the quote in this book which has Leonardo da Vinci in the title and assumed he said it instead of Machiavelli and then posted it on the internet.  Of course, this is pure speculation, and I could very well be wrong.  But the use of the verb “see” only occurs in this book and the misquote, so I tend to think there is a correlation.

Translated Quotes Are Not Reliable

Today’s misquote demonstrates perfectly why I do not like to use translated quotes.  The wording can vary so widely across different translations that sometimes the entire meaning is changed.  Fortunately, even though there are many wording variations for Machiavelli’s quote, the meaning does not change that much with each version.  However, this is not always the case.  My 06/07/14 post “No, that’s not how Benjamin Franklin wrote it” highlights a Latin quote that has a variety of English translations, each with a completely different meaning.  I prefer to avoid this loss in translation by simply not using translations.

Quote Books Often Feature Misquotes

Today’s misquote appears in at least 27 contemporary books.  All were published in the 2000s, and three of them are quote books.  One of the quote books is specifically Leonardo da Vinci quotes only.  Unfortunately, it features today’s misquote AND the da Vinci misquote I wrote about in my 11/30/15 post “No, Leonardo da Vinci did not write that.”  Like the vast majority of quote books on the market right now, this book does not include detailed source information with each quote.  As I’ve written before, never trust a book (or website) that does not include information such as the name of the work in which the quote is found along with applicable data like chapter, act, scene, line, stanza, etc.  If you cannot verify the quote with the data provided, it is not reliable.

Most Amusing Finds

During my research, I came across two informational websites that are specifically about Leonardo da Vinci and Leonardo da Vinci only, and they both feature today’s misquote. . . Well, there goes all credibility.  [queue sad wah-wah-wah-waaaah trombone]

I also came across an article about Leonardo da Vinci on storify.com.  The author writes that the misquote “can be interpreted and applied to the Mona Lisa.”  Boy, talk about reaching.  [smile, chuckle, wink]

Most Disappointing Find

Sadly, I discovered today’s misquote on the University of St. Andrews, Scotland website.  I’m always disappointed to see the quote virus infecting educational institutions.

For Sale

As usual, our misquote is available for purchase.  That’s right!  For just $24.65 you can have your own misquote mouse pad.  (Wow, trying saying that three times really fast.)  If you’re more of a fashionista, $29.95 will get you a beautiful misquote sweatshirt so you can proudly display something da Vinci never said, preferably to “those who do not see.”  [Tee hee!]  Yes . . . that is a feeble attempt at geeky quote humor.

Let’s Kill the Quote Virus Together

I haven’t come up with a vaccine for the quote virus yet, so for now our only weapon is education.  You, dear reader, can help by sharing the knowledge.  Forward this post to friends and family, and if you’re on Facebook, “like” my Facebook fan page.  If you’re on Twitter, you can follow me @SueBrewton.

Until next time,

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

No, Benjamin Disraeli did not write that.

/ Sue Brewton / 6 Comments

Today’s post is about an inspirational quote that is often misattributed to Benjamin Disraeli.  Read on to learn who really wrote it as well as who is spreading this false information.

The Misattributed Quote Variations in Order of Popularity

✘“Every production of genius must be the production of enthusiasm.”
Benjamin Disraeli

✘“Every product of genius must be the product of enthusiasm.”
Benjamin Disraeli

The Correct Quote

✓“Every production of genius must be the production of enthusiasm.”
Isaac D’Israeli
“Solitude”
Curiosities of Literature

Here is the quote found in Curiosities of Literature originally published in installments from 1791 to 1823.

The Quote Found in 'Curiosities of Literature'

The Quote Found in Curiosities of Literature

Here is the title page showing Isaac D’Israeli is the author.

Title Page of 'Curiosities of Literature' by Isaac D’Israeli

Title Page of Curiosities of Literature by Isaac D’Israeli

Here is the table of contents.

'Curiosities of Literature' Table of Contents

Curiosities of Literature Table of Contents

D’Israeli vs. Disraeli

Please note the difference in surname spelling in the above attributions.  Even though they are father and son, they spelled their last name differently.  Isaac spelled it with an apostrophe followed by a capital letter, as in D’Israeli.  His son and future British Prime Minister, Benjamin, at the age of eighteen changed the spelling by deleting the apostrophe and changing the second letter to lower case; in other words, D’Israeli became Disraeli.  After Isaac’s death, Benjamin edited Curiosities of Literature by adding his own commentary and changing the spelling of Isaac’s surname to match his.  This is why you may encounter two versions of Isaac’s last name depending on when the book was published.

Statistics

After surveying 110 websites featuring today’s misquote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
42%    Quotes only
17%    Social media
16%    Corporation/corporate individual
9%     Informational
8%     Quotes a major feature
4%     Academic/educational/school
3%     Online app or service
1%     Topical group or discussion forum

Quote Websites Are the Main Source of Today’s Misquote

The above statistics indicate that websites with the sole purpose of providing quotes are the largest group propagating today’s misquote.  If we combine them (42%) with the websites that provide quotes as a major part of their functionality (8%), we find that 50 percent of the websites perpetuating this misinformation are major quote repositories.  As I’ve written before, quote databases of any kind found on the internet are notoriously riddled with inaccurate information.  The administrators of these databases generally do not fact-check the data they are providing.  Additionally, they often blindly copy quotes verbatim from other quote websites (probably also not fact-checked).  I have actually seen on many occasions the same quotes with the same typos in the same order on different quote websites.  Because of this general lack of integrity, these sites should be avoided like the plague that they are.

Social Media Websites Are Another Source of Today’s Misquote

The above statistics also show that social media websites are another major contributor to the proliferation of today’s misquote.  They are the breeding grounds for the quote virus.  The quote websites are typically where the initial infection occurs, and the social media websites are where the infection spreads like a virus across the internet.  One person posts an infected quote, and all of his/her followers get it, and all of their followers get it and so on and so forth.  This means whenever you receive a cute little quote meme on social media, don’t believe it.  It is probably infected.

Citing Surname Only Is a Possible Cause of Today’s Misattribution

During my research, I came across the quote book A Dictionary of Thoughts (Cassell Publishing Company, 1891) by Tryon Edwards which attributes all quotes by last name only.  Today’s misquote is in the book attributed to Disraeli, spelled the way Benjamin spells it.  Both men are listed in the index of authors with the same surname spelling.  The problem is they are not differentiated with a first name initial for each quote; therefore, one can only guess which Disraeli said what.  (Apparently, this was an oversight because other authors in the book with the same last name are differentiated.)  There are other quote books during this time period that also cite by last name only, so we cannot definitively say that A Dictionary of Thoughts was the one that gave birth to this misquote.  However, its lack of distinction between these two authors certainly may have contributed to it.  The surname-only style popular during this time period definitely did not help things.

Dictionary of Quotations by James Wood Is Another Possible Cause of Misattribution

I came across another quote book titled Dictionary of Quotations (Frederick Warne and Co., 1893) by Rev. James Wood which also attributes by last name only.  Even though Isaac and Benjamin are presented with the same surname spelling (the way Benjamin spells it), the book differentiates by including the first initial for Isaac.  Since the book attributes today’s quote to Disraeli with no initial, it is a misattribution to Benjamin.  So this book is another possible point of origin for this misquote.

Beaconsfield Is Another Name for Disraeli

In 1876 Queen Victoria ennobled Benjamin Disraeli Earl of Beaconsfield.  Because of this, some quote books of the day refer to Disraeli as Beaconsfield.  The quote book Many Thoughts of Many Minds (The Christian Herald, 1896) by Louis Klopsch is an example of this.  Today’s misquote can be found in this book attributed to Beaconsfield instead of Disraeli, which means this book could also be another possible point of origin for our misquote.

Automated Quote Apps Are Another Source of Quote Infection

There are many services available that allow users to subscribe to automatic delivery of a new quote every day to their social media account or smart phone.  Unfortunately, most of these services use quote databases derived from the internet which means they are simply additional conduits for misquote propagation.  As with quote websites, these services should be avoided.

Modern Books Are Another Source of Misquotes

Much like quote websites, modern quote books are just as unreliable.  During my research, I came across eight books featuring today’s misquote.  Five of them are quote books, and all were published in the 2000s.  If a quote book is published after the advent of the internet, it will most likely contain quotes collected from the internet which means much of the data will not be trustworthy.  This does not mean that quote books published prior to the internet are flawless (as today’s misquote shows); it just means they typically contain fewer errors.

A Quote Should Include Detailed Source Information

Most quote websites and contemporary quote books cite author name only with each quote.  This is a sign the quote was probably not verified.  The quote should include detailed source information such as book title, chapter number, play title, act number, scene number, line number, poem title, stanza number and/or line number.  You should be able to easily find the quote on your own using the given source information.

A Quote Should Include Original Source Information

The source information should be from the originator.  Citing a quote website or a quote book as a source is not legitimate.  Citing a book in which the author claims someone said something without including a source is also not legitimate.  The source should be the original work in which the quote is found.  The name alone is not sufficient source information.

Most Amusing Find

During my research, I came across a quote website that lists Benjamin Disraeli’s date of birth as January 1, 1970.  Apparently, this website administrator didn’t get the memo that Disraeli was born in 1804.  Predictably, today’s misquote is also listed on this website.  So not only is the attribution wrong, but the biographical information is wrong.  Hence I repeat, avoid quote websites at all costs.

Most Disappointing Find

Sadly, the quote virus has infected our academic community.  I came across a high school teacher of AP European history who included today’s misquote on her website.

Let’s Kill the Quote Virus Together

There’s no vaccine for the quote virus, so the only way to combat it is through education.  You, dear reader, can help by sharing the knowledge.  You can do this by forwarding this post to family and friends.  Also, if you know someone who is writing a book (seems like everyone is nowadays), this would be very helpful information to them, as many contemporary authors like to include a quote at the beginning of each chapter.  If you’re on Facebook, “like” my Facebook fan page.  If you’re on Twitter, you can follow me @SueBrewton.

Until next time, remember to

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

No, Ralph Waldo Emerson did not write that.

/ Sue Brewton / Leave a comment

Today’s post is about an inspirational quote that is often misworded and misattributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Read on to learn who really wrote it as well as who is spreading this inaccurate information across the internet and in modern literature.

The Misattributed and Misworded Quote Variations

✘“Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

✘“Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your promotion.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

These are the two most popular versions.  However, both versions can also be found with the word “own” either deleted or moved to the end of the sentence after the words, “except by your.”

The Correct Quote

✓“Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission.”
Arnold Bennett
The Human Machine, chapter VI

Here is the quote found in The Human Machine by Arnold Bennett first published in 1908.  Note the heading title is “Lord over the Noddle.”

The Quote Found in 'The Human Machine' by Arnold Bennett with the Heading "Lord Over the Noddle"

The Quote Found in The Human Machine by Arnold Bennett with the Heading “Lord over the Noddle”

Here is the title page showing Arnold Bennett is the author.

Title Page of 'The Human Machine' by Arnold Bennett

Title Page of The Human Machine by Arnold Bennett

Here is the table of contents showing “Lord over the Noddle” is chapter VI.

Table of Contents Showing "Lord Over the Noddle" Is Chapter VI

Table of Contents Showing “Lord over the Noddle” Is Chapter VI

Statistics

After surveying 95 websites featuring today’s misquote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
32%    Social media
25%    Corporation/corporate individual
14%    Quotes only
13%    Informational
5%     Quotes a major feature
4%     Academic/educational/school
3%     Topical group or discussion forum
2%     Organization
2%     Online app or service

Social Media Websites Are the Main Source of Today’s Misquote

As we can see from the above statistics, social media websites are the most common place to find this misquote.  As I have written so many times before, the quote virus thrives on social media.  Every user that posts a misquote spreads it to all of his/her followers, who spread it to all of their followers, who spread it to all of their followers ad infinitum.  Eventually, we end up with a mutant quote pandemic that has people believing false information is fact because it has become so deeply entrenched throughout cyberspace and modern literature.

The lesson is when you receive a quote on social media, don’t believe it.  There is a good chance it is infected.  I personally have recently received several Abraham Lincoln quotes on Facebook, and all of them were false.

Quote Books Are Another Source of Misquotes

I found 12 books featuring our misquote, and three of them are quote books.  As I’ve discussed in prior posts, modern quote books are not a reliable source for quality quotes.  Most of them are compilations of quotes gathered from quote websites (third in the above statistics) and recently published quote books; both of which are notoriously riddled with inaccurate information.

Never trust a quote source if it does not provide detailed information with the quote.  The author/orator’s name alone is not sufficient.  It should be accompanied by the title of the work in which the quote is found along with applicable information such as chapter number, act, scene, line number, speech date, location, etc.

The Possible Cause of the Misattributed Quote

How this quote came to be attributed to Emerson is unknown.  However, during my research, I noticed the works of both authors are often featured within the same publication.  This includes periodicals and books from the late 1800s to today.  I even found several publications where quotes by both writers appear on the same page.  My guess is somewhere in time, a quote collector for a website or book found today’s quote in a publication featuring both authors and mistook which one wrote it.  Once the flawed data was published, the quote virus took over via social media and spread it throughout the universe.  Of course that is pure speculation, but it’s the best I can offer at this time.

My 11/30/14 post titled Edgar Allan Poe vs. Washington Irving is a similar situation where a quote by Irving gets attributed to Poe.  Both authors wrote in the same genre and time period, so both are often featured within the same publication.  As with today’s post, I’m guessing the origin of that misquote is similar.

Most Amusing Find

I came across a website that offers term papers, essays, and reports for free.  Today’s misquote is featured in one of the essays.  I guess that’s proof you really do get what you pay for.  [chuckle, wink]

Let’s Kill the Quote Virus

Much like a physiological virus with no vaccine, the quote virus can only be combated through education.  You can be part of the solution by sharing the knowledge.  Forward this post to friends and family, and if you’re on Facebook, please “like” my Facebook fan page.  If you’re on Twitter, you can follow me @SueBrewton.

Finally, remember to practice safe quoting by never trusting quotes that do not include detailed source information.  Until next time,

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

No, that is not what Abraham Lincoln said.

/ Sue Brewton / 14 Comments

Today’s post is about a wildly popular life quote that is often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.  Follow along to learn who really said it as well as who is spreading this misinformation across the internet and in modern literature.

The Misattributed Quote Variations

✘“When I do good, I feel good.  When I do bad, I feel bad.  That’s my religion.”
Abraham Lincoln

✘“When I do good, I feel good.  When I don’t do good, I don’t feel good.”
Abraham Lincoln

The Correct Quote

✓“When I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad, and that’s my religion.”
Unknown
Herndon’s Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, volume III, chapter XIV
William H. Herndon and Jesse William Weik

According to Herndon (Lincoln’s friend and law partner), Lincoln attributes this quote to an old man named Glenn in Indiana.  Since there have been multitudes of people named Glenn in Indiana and no other identifying information is provided, we can only attribute this quote to unknown.  Of course, it could be attributed to “old man Glenn in Indiana,” but this ultimately leads to “unknown.”  Here is the quote found in Herndon’s Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, volume III, chapter XIV first published in 1889.

The Quote Found in Volume III, Chapter XIV of Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life by William H. Herndon and Jesse William Weik

The Quote Found in Volume III, Chapter XIV of Herndon’s Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life by William H. Herndon and Jesse William Weik

Here is the title page.

Title Page of Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life by William H. Herndon and Jesse William Weik

Title Page of Herndon’s Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life by William H. Herndon and Jesse William Weik

Statistics

The quote virus is having a field day with this quote.  After surveying 160 websites (and there were many more) featuring today’s misquote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
40%    Quotes only
15%    Quotes a major feature
15%    Informational
11%    Social media
5%     Corporation/corporate individual
4%     Online app or service
4%     Academic/educational/school
3%     Topical group or discussion forum
2%     Quotes paraphernalia for purchase
1%     Organization

Quote Websites Are the Main Source of Today’s Misquote

Based on the above statistics, websites with the sole purpose of providing quotes are the main source of this misquote.  Also note that websites which provide quotes as a major feature of their functionality make up 15 percent.  Combine these two categories, and 55 percent of these websites are major quote repositories.  This means the main cause of the spread of this misinformation is online quote databases.

The moral of the story is never use a quote website as a source for quotes.  They are rife with inaccurate data and are extremely unreliable.

The Cause of the Misattributed Quote

The confusion with this quote is that, according to Herndon, Lincoln did indeed utter these words, but he prefaced them with an attribution to Glenn of Indiana.  Somewhere in time, this part of the quote got eliminated.  And without this key information, the assumption is that Lincoln himself said it.  Voila!  A misquote is born.

I found that most books during the late 1800s and early 1900s featuring this quote include the correct attribution; however, I did find one book titled Thomas Paine: The Apostle of Liberty by John E. Remsburg published by The Truth Seeker Company in 1917 that omitted the attribution.  I don’t know if this is exactly when the misquote started, but it may have contributed to it.

This Is Not the First Time This Has Happened

I have encountered this type of misquote metamorphosis before.  My 12/31/14 post Squire Bill Widener vs. Theodore Roosevelt is a similar situation.  Theodore Roosevelt clearly attributes a quote to Squire Bill Widener, but over time, this attribution is eliminated, and another misquote is born.

Hearsay Quotes Are Unreliable

Because this particular quote is not written or published by Lincoln himself and is merely an ear-witness account, it is hearsay which means its validity is weak.  As we all know, human memory is not always accurate, so when a quote is derived from someone claiming to have heard it, it is not reliable.  I’m not implying that today’s quote is untrue; I’m just pointing out that its source is weak.  For all we know, the wording is incorrect because Herndon had a bad memory, or maybe Glenn from Indiana is actually Ben from Alabama because Herndon was hard of hearing.  (smile, wink)  I’m just saying there are many things that can go wrong in the transfer of information from one human to another, so hearsay quotes aren’t as reliable as direct quotes.

Quote Books Are Another Source of Misquotes

I came across 37 books featuring today’s misquote, and four are quote books published between 2010 and 2014.  Similar to quote websites, modern quote books are also unreliable.  If a quote book is published after the inception of the internet, it is probably riddled with inaccurate information.  Unfortunately, most contemporary quote book authors use the internet as their data source.

The bottom line is only trust quote books that have detailed source information for each quote.  This means the name of the author/orator should be accompanied by the name of the work in which the quote is found along with applicable source information such as chapter, verse, act, scene, line, stanza, etc.

Most Amusing Finds

I came across a website with the tagline “Fighting Ignorance Since 1973.”  I find it humorous that while they’re fighting ignorance, this inaccurate information appears on their site.  I guess the fight will be going on for a while.

Here’s something that really cracked me up.  A few quote websites append “(unconfirmed)” to the misquote.  What’s hilarious is that NONE of the quotes on the website are confirmed!  In reality, this comment should be appended to EVERY quote on the website.  And, yes, I did spot other misquotes on each website featuring this comment.

Most Quote Websites Are Merely Compilations of Other Quote Websites

Apparently, some quote website administrator somewhere added “(unconfirmed)” to this misquote, and since most quote websites are duplicates of other quote websites, this new version is now beginning to take hold.  This is not surprising because separate quote websites often feature the exact same quotes in the exact same order with the exact same misquotes with the exact same typos.  As more and more quote websites are created, this duplication of misinformation spreads like a virus, and the next thing we know history is rewritten, and false data becomes fact.

Misquotes for Sale

As usual, our misquote is available for purchase.  For as little as $12.99, a canvas poster featuring the misquote in big, bold letters can be yours.  Or for the interior designer, you can beautify your home by applying the misquote in vinyl lettering directly to your walls for just $59.99.  Decisions!  Decisions!

Let’s Kill the Quote Virus

The quote virus lives and thrives on the internet.  It spreads its infection through quote websites and social media.  A single person can start an epidemic by posting one misquote anywhere on the internet.  If it is on social media, all followers spread it to their followers who spread it to their followers and so on.  If it is on a quote website, it will be copied to quote books, social media, and other quote websites.

The only way to kill the quote virus is through education.  You can be a part of the solution by sharing the knowledge.  If you’re on Facebook, you can “like” my Facebook fan page, and if you’re on Twitter, you can follow me @SueBrewton.  If you’re not on social media, you can e-mail this article to friends and family.

Until next time,

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

No, Leonardo da Vinci did not write that.

/ Sue Brewton / 1 Comment

Today’s post is about a wildly popular inspirational quote that is often misworded and misattributed to Leonardo da Vinci.  Follow along to learn who really wrote it as well as who is spreading this misinformation across the internet.

The Misattributed and Misworded Quote Variations

✘“I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.”
Leonardo da Vinci

✘“I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.”
Thomas Paine

✘“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”
Thomas Paine

✘“I love the man that can smile at trouble; that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.”
Thomas Paine

The Correct Quote

✓“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.”
Thomas Paine
The American Crisis, No. I
December 1776

The American Crisis is a series of 16 essays by Thomas Paine published from 1776–1783 under the pseudonym Common Sense.  Thirteen of the essays are numbered, and the quote appears in essay number 1.

Here is the quote found on page 176 in G. P. Putnam’s Sons 1912 publication of Common Sense Together with The American Crisis.

The Quote Found in 'Common Sense Together with The American Crisis' (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1912)

The Quote Found in Common Sense Together with The American Crisis (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1912)

Here is the beginning of essay number 1 on page 170.  Note the famous first sentence.

The beginning of "The Crisis, No. 1" with the Famous First Sentence "These are the times that try men's souls"

The First Paragraph of “The Crisis, No. 1” with the Famous First Sentence

Here is the title page of the publication.

The Title Page of 'Common Sense Together with The American Crisis' (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1912)

The Title Page of Common Sense Together with The American Crisis (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1912)

The Library of Congress has a copy of the original pamphlet published in Boston titled “The American Crisis (No. 1).”  The quote appears in the third column at the end of the 23rd line (which begins with “might have saved”).

If this link does not work, you can find the document by following these steps:

1.  Go to the Library of Congress website (www.loc.gov)
2.  Enter “The American Crisis (No. 1)” in the search bar
3.  Click on the link to the document
4.  Click on the document image
5.  Click the “+” button to zoom in for better viewing

This Misquote Is Often Cited As Two Sentences

In the above-referenced copy of the original pamphlet, the wording and punctuation of the quote and the subsequent sentence are as follows:

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.  ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.”

Compare this correct version to the most popular misattributed versions (I have underlined the incorrect wording and punctuation):

“I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.”

“I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.  ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.”

The Most Popular Versions Are Not Only Misattributed but Are Misworded

The comparisons above demonstrate that the most popular versions of this misquote are misattributed AND misworded.  Some may think slight rewording or paraphrasing is acceptable; however, I absolutely object to that when it comes to important historical documents such as The American Crisis.  It is a shame that it is Americans, for the most part, who are attributing this quote to someone other than Thomas Paine.  Rewriting the words just adds insult to injury.

Statistics
After surveying 150 websites featuring today’s misquote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
35%    Quotes only
27%    Social media
14%    Informational
8%     Corporation/Corporate Individual
7%     Quotes a major feature
5%     Online app or service
2%     Topical group or discussion forum
1%     Quotes paraphernalia for purchase
1%     Organization

Quote Websites Are the Main Source of Today’s Misquote

Based on the above statistics, the main source of today’s misquote are websites that specialize solely in providing quotes.  The 7% of websites that provide quotes as a major feature of their functionality should also be noted.  These two categories together mean 42% of the sites featuring this misquote are major databases specializing in quotes.  This is a classic example of what’s known in computer science as GIGO (garbage in, garbage out).  In other words, if the quality of the input is garbage, the quality of the output is garbage.  And for some reason, the vast majority of websites that specialize in quotes have no quality control whatsoever.  In fact, many of them allow any user to add any data at any time.  In a nutshell, these websites should be avoided at all costs.

Social Media Is Another Source of Today’s Misquote

The above statistics also show that social media is the second major source of propagation for today’s misquote.  As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the quote virus quickly and easily spreads its germs through social media.  Every user that posts a misquote spreads it to all of his/her followers, who spread it to all of their followers, who spread it to all of their followers, etc.  The bottom line is never trust a quote sent to you via social media.  There’s a high probability it is infected.

We May Have an Incubating Mutant

During my research, I came across an Instagram post featuring the misquote attributed to Thomas Paine.  I then noticed underneath it another user posted the comment, “I think that’s a Da Vinci or DiCaprio quote.”  Knowing how social media works, I wouldn’t be surprised if a new mutation emerges in the near future attributing the misquote to Leonardo DiCaprio.  Stay tuned.

Most Amusing Finds

My most amusing find is a Leonardo da Vinci website that features today’s misquote.  The sole purpose of this website is to provide information about Leonardo da Vinci and only Leonardo da Vinci.  One would think with a subject-matter scope this narrow all data provided would be verified.  Unfortunately, this bit of misinformation makes all information on the website suspect.

My second amusing find is a book of Leonardo da Vinci quotes published in 2013, and you guessed it; our misquote is proudly featured in the book.  One has to wonder why anyone would go through all the effort to publish a book and not fact-check any of the data.  The end result is a book that has no credibility, and the author becomes another carrier in today’s misinformation epidemic.  Unfortunately, the advent of quick and easy self-publishing has contributed heavily to this modern-day plague.

Most Disappointing Finds

I was very disappointed to see today’s misquote featured as the “Quote of the Week” on a blog written by K-12 principals and school administrators.  One would think educators would be a little more diligent about the information they are conveying.

I was also disappointed to find a scrapbooking website based in Ohio that features today’s misquote on a list of suggested quotes to use.  Not only is the quote misworded, but it is attributed to Thomas Payne instead of Paine.  It is sad that the name of a well-known, important historical figure in American history is misspelled, and no one has noticed or bothered to correct it since 2013 when the site was established.

Quote Books Often Feature Misquotes

I came across seven quote books featuring today’s misquote.  The publication dates range from 2003 to 2015.  Unfortunately, most modern quote books are merely compilations of quotes obtained from the internet and other previously published quote books.  If there is no accompanying detailed source information with each quote, the book should not be trusted.  Citing the writer/orator’s name alone is not sufficient.  The source information should include the name of the work in which the quote is found followed by applicable information such as chapter, act, scene, stanza, line, etc.

Misquotes Can Be Found in a Wide Variety of Books

I also found today’s misquote in 11 books that are not specifically about quotes.  The publication dates range from 2007 to 2015, and the topics vary from fiction to spirituality to stress management to water-and-waste management.

Misquotes for Sale

As always, I found our misquote available for purchase.  For $15.95 you can have your own misquote coffee mug.  If you prefer something a little more artsy, a canvas misquote poster can be yours for just $59.00.  It’s amazing how many flawed merchandise options there are!

Let’s Kill the Quote Virus

The quote virus can only be killed through education and safe quoting.  You can help by sharing the knowledge with your family and friends.  Also, if you’re on Facebook, you can “like” my Facebook fan page, and if you’re on Twitter, you can follow me @SueBrewton.

Finally, remember to practice safe quoting by never trusting quotes on quote websites or social media.  Also be wary of quote books that don’t have detailed source information.  Until next time,

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

No, Jane Austen did not write that.

/ Sue Brewton / Leave a comment

Today’s post is about a love quote that is often misattributed to Jane Austen.  Read on to learn who really wrote it as well as who is propagating this misinformation across the internet.

The Misattributed Quote

✘“To love is to burn, to be on fire.”
Jane Austen

The Correct Quote

✓“To love is to burn, to be on fire.”
Emma Thompson
Sense and Sensibility screenplay
Director Ang Lee
Columbia Pictures, 1995

The Quote Can Also Be Found in Emma Thompson’s Book

The entire screenplay is included in Emma Thompson’s book Sense and Sensibility: the Screenplay & Diaries currently published by Newmarket Press for It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.  Please note the original book is titled The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen’s Novel to Film published by Newmarket Press in 1995.  HarperCollins subsequently acquired the rights.

Statistics

After surveying 65 websites featuring the misattributed quote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
62%    Social media
12%    Quotes only
8%     Corporation/Corporate individual
8%     Topical Group or Discussion Forum
5%     Informational
3%     Quotes paraphernalia for purchase
1%     Academic/Educational/School
1%     Quotes a major feature

The Source of the Misattributed Quote

Based on the above statistics, by far the main source of today’s misquote is social media.  As I’ve mentioned before, the quote virus loves to spread its disease through social media.  As we know, all it takes is one person posting a misquote on his/her favorite social media site to begin the epidemic.  All of his/her followers receive the infected quote who then spread it to all of their followers who spread it to their followers ad infinitum.

For example, I came across a blog featuring the misquote by itself as a blog post.  I analyzed the statistics listed underneath the post and found it was reblogged 87 times and liked 112 times.  Just imagine how many of those reblogs and likes were subsequently reblogged and liked which were subsequently reblogged and liked.  And this is from a single person.  This is one of the main reasons there are so many misquotes floating around in cyber world.

The bottom line is never believe quotes that are sent to you via social media, yes, even if they’re from your family and friends.

The Cause of the Misattributed Quote

Because the 1995 Sense and Sensibility film is based on the 1811 Sense and Sensibility book, it is easy to understand how the film quote came to be misattributed to the book.  However, these two pieces of art have two separate creators.  Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay, and Jane Austen wrote the book.

As I have mentioned before, just because a film is based on a book does not mean that the entire dialog is verbatim from the book.  If this were the case, the film duration would never fit within a two-hour timeframe.  It is up to the screenwriter to condense the story and dialog into a reasonable feature-film length.  And this is what Emma Thompson did with Jane Austen’s book.

If you are interested in hearing the quote in the movie, it occurs at 19 minutes 24 seconds.  Marianne (played by Kate Winslet) says it to her mother, Mrs. Dashwood (played by Gemma Jones).  Please note, if you happen to view it on a free movie-streaming website, make sure the run time is the full 2 hours and 16 minutes; otherwise, the scene will not occur at the 19-minute mark.

In short, because this quote occurs in the film and does not appear in the book, Emma Thompson is the correct author of the quote.

Screenwriters Often Do Not Get Credit for Their Quotes

My 08/31/15 post titled No, Charles Dickens did not write that and my 06/18/14 post titled F. Scott Fitzgerald Gets Credit Where Credit Isn’t Due are two more examples of screenwriters not getting credit for their quotes.

Most Amusing Finds

I came across a book titled Jane Austen Quotes and Facts.  One of the “facts” is that Austen wrote the misquote.  Hmm . . . I wonder where the author did his “research.”

I also encountered an article in a local news magazine for a city in Massachusetts in which the author claims one of her “favorite novels written by Jane Austen” is Sense and Sensibility.  This author then proceeds to attribute the misquote to Austen and then misspells two characters’ names (Edward Ferrars is spelled Edward Farrows, and Elinor is spelled Eleanor).  Given these are two of the main characters whose names occur repeatedly in the story, one wonders how many times she actually read the book.

Finally, I found our misquote for sale on an apron for $25.55.  Not only is it amusing that flawed merchandise has a price of $25.55, but it is also amusing that an apron features a quote that is about burning and being on fire.  I suppose if you’re really into cooking flambé, it would be a great fit.  But I would think most cooks wouldn’t want to accompany their culinary efforts with the words “burn” and “on fire” (smile, wink, chuckle).

For Sale

Conveniently, today’s misquote is widely available for purchase online.  You can spend as little as $3.70 for a greeting card or as much as $46.95 for a traveler water bottle.  What a deal!

Kill the Quote Virus

The quote virus can only be exterminated through education.  You can be part of the solution by sharing the knowledge.  Please forward this post to family and friends, or if you’re on Facebook, “like” my Facebook fan page.  If you’re on Twitter, you can follow me @SueBrewton.  Remember to practice safe quoting and

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

J. M. Barrie Love Quote Is Actually Not about Love

/ Sue Brewton / 4 Comments

Today’s post is about a J. M. Barrie quote that is often misworded resulting in a completely different quote with a completely different meaning.  The quote is actually about the topic of charm, but the reworded quote leads us to believe it is about love.  Follow along to learn who is propagating this falsehood.

The Most Popular Misworded Quote Variations

✘“If you have it [love], you don’t need to have anything else, and if you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter much what else you have.”
J. M. Barrie

✘“If you have it [love], you don’t need anything else, and if you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter much what else you have.”
J. M. Barrie

✘“If you have love, you don’t need to have anything else, and if you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter much what else you have.”
J. M. Barrie

✘“If you have love, you don’t need to have anything else.  If you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter much what else you do have.”
J. M. Barrie

✘“If you have love, you don’t need anything else.  If you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter much what else you do have.”
J. M. Barrie

✘“If you have it (love), you don’t need to have anything else, and if you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter much what else you have.”
J. M. Barrie

The Correct Quote

✓“If you have it, you don’t need to have anything else; and if you don’t have it, it doesn’t much matter what else you have.”
J. M. Barrie
What Every Woman Knows, Act I

More Misquote Variations

I have researched many misquotes, but I have to say this particular one has more variations than any other I have seen thus far.  The variations listed above are the most popular, but they come in many other flavors.  Some have additional words inserted; some have words deleted; some have words rearranged, and some have all three.  Some are split into two separate sentences; some are not.  Punctuation varies widely.

However, there is one thing they all have in common, and that is the word “love” has been erroneously inserted into the beginning phrase.  Here are some variations not listed above:

Love:  If you have it . . .
Love… If you have it . . .
Love, if you have it . . .
Love? If you have it . . .

Exactly when someone decided to introduce love into this quote, I don’t know.  But what I do know is that this quote is not about love.  Surprise!

This Quote Is Not about Love

A few years after the successful release of his play Peter Pan, J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie wrote a comedy titled What Every Woman Knows.  This quote is from Act I of that play.  The quote is part of a reply by the character, Maggie, to a question posed to her about charm.  What follows are pages 14 and 15 of the 1918 publication of the play.  Note the question about charm is at the bottom of page 14 highlighted in pink followed by the quote, found in Maggie’s reply, at the top of page 15 highlighted in yellow.

Page 14 of J. M. Barrie's 'What Every Woman Knows' Showing the Topic Is Charm

Page 14 of J. M. Barrie’s ‘What Every Woman Knows’ Showing the Topic Is Charm

The Quote on Page 15 of 1918 Publication of J. M. Barrie's 'What Every Woman Knows'

The Quote on Page 15 of 1918 Publication of J. M. Barrie’s ‘What Every Woman Knows’

Here is the title page:

Title Page of 1918 Publication of J. M. Barrie's 'What Every

Title Page of 1918 Publication of J. M. Barrie’s ‘What Every Woman Knows’

This Quote Is about Charm

As you can see, the context of the quote is the topic of charm and what exactly it is.  I can only speculate as to how it came to be about love.  My guess is that it has something to do with an earlier conversation in the play.  Prior to meeting Maggie, the male characters have a discussion about love; perhaps this is how it gets associated with the quote.

Statistics

After surveying 113 websites featuring the misworded quote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
26%    Quotes only
23%    Social Media
21%    Informational
8%     Corporation/corporate individual
8%     Topical group or discussion forum
6%     Online app or service
4%     Quotes a major feature
2%     Quotes paraphernalia for purchase
2%     Academic/educational/school

The Sources of the Misworded Quote

Based on the above statistics, websites that specialize solely in quotes are the biggest offenders.  As we’ve seen in so many of my previous posts, this is extremely common.  I must reiterate that these sites should never be used as a resource for quotes.

Social media websites are a very close second.  This means you should never trust a quote that is sent to you via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media site.  As we have learned before, the quote virus does its best work through social media.  When one person posts a contaminated quote, it spreads to all of his/her followers who spread it to all of their followers and so on and so forth.

Informational websites come in third which is unusual.  Typically this category falls into a single-digit percentage.  To date, I’ve only researched three other misquotes with informational websites ranking in double-digit percentages.  The moral of this story is even websites dealing with facts such as news, statistics, and other data can be infected with misquotes.

Modern Quote Books Feature Misquotes

I came across six books published in the 2000s featuring today’s misquote.  One of them was a quotes-only book.  I must reiterate if a quote book does not provide detailed source information for each quote, it is not reliable.  The name attribution alone is not sufficient.  It should be accompanied by the work in which the quote is found followed by applicable information such as chapter, act, scene, stanza, line, etc.

Many authors create their quote books by simply compiling quotes they’ve collected from unreliable sources.  Additionally, many of them further complicate things when they transcribe the quotes incorrectly resulting in misworded, misattributed, inaccurate data.  This creates a breeding ground for the quote virus: one reader copies the infected quote onto one of his/her social media websites which then infects all of his/her followers who infect all of their followers ad infinitum.

For Sale

As usual, today’s misworded quote is available for purchase.  I came across a wall art company selling it for $20 to $50 depending on size.  The artwork is actually very creative and beautiful.  What a shame that it’s flawed.

Kill the Quote Virus

Today’s misquote demonstrates how the quote virus can change the entire meaning of a quote by adding a new word to it.  This mutated version then travels across the internet multiplying and spawning new strains as it goes.  You can help exterminate this modern-day pestilence by sharing the knowledge.  Please forward this post to family and friends, “like” my Facebook fan page or follow me @SueBrewton on Twitter. Until next time, practice safe quoting and

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

No, Charles Dickens did not write that.

/ Sue Brewton / 4 Comments

Today’s post is about an inspirational quote that is often misattributed to Charles Dickens.  Follow along to learn who really wrote it and why it continues to proliferate across the internet.

The Misattributed Quote

✘“Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it but to delight in it when it comes.”
Charles Dickens
Nicholas Nickleby

The Correct Quote

✓“Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it but to delight in it when it comes.”
Douglas McGrath
Nicholas Nickleby screenplay
Director Douglas McGrath
United Artists, 2002

Statistics

After surveying 104 websites featuring the misattributed quote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
41%    Social Media
16%    Corporation/Corporate individual
16%    Quotes only
9%     Informational
7%     Topical group or discussion forum
3%     Quotes paraphernalia for purchase
3%     Academic/educational/school
2%     Quotes a major feature
2%     Online app or service
1%     Organization

The Sources of the Misattributed Quote

Based on the above statistics, social media websites are the main mode of propagation for this misquote.  As I mentioned in my previous post, the quote virus loves social media.  It is one of the most effective ways to spread a contaminated quote.  A single person can post one misquote, and it will spread to all of his/her followers who then spread it to all of their followers who spread it to all of their followers and so on and so forth.  The bottom line is never believe a quote that is sent to you via social media.  There’s a high probability it is inaccurate.

As usual, quotes-only websites are in the top three offenders list.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, websites that specialize solely in providing quotes are the most erroneous sources for quotes.  For the most part, they are duplicates of each other and feature the same misquotes and typos often in the exact same order.  For some reason, these website administrators do not verify the information they are publishing.  Because they are so unreliable, I highly recommend avoiding them.

The Cause of the Misattributed Quote

Because the 2002 Nicholas Nickleby film is based on the Nicholas Nickleby book, it is easy to understand how the film quote came to be misattributed to the book.  However, they are two separate pieces of art with two separate creators.  Douglas McGrath wrote the screenplay, and Charles Dickens wrote the book.

Just because a film is based on a book does not mean that the entire dialog is verbatim from the book.  If this were the case, the film duration could never fit within a two-hour timeframe.  It is up to the screenwriter to condense the story and dialog into a reasonable feature-film length.  In his article “Nipping ‘Nickleby’” featured on Variety.com, McGrath humorously explains if he kept all parts of the book, “The film would then run 35 hours (34 if I cut the scene in the garden).”  Later in the article, he describes how he came up with this quote.

If you are interested in hearing the quote in the movie, it occurs in narration (Nathan Lane) during the wedding scene at the end of the film.

In short, because this quote occurs in the film and does not appear in the book, Douglas McGrath is the correct author of the quote.

My 06/18/14 post titled F. Scott Fitzgerald Gets Credit Where Credit Isn’t Due is another example of a screenwriter not getting credit for a quote.  In this instance the screenwriter is Eric Roth for his work in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Most Disappointing Find

I came across two professors with this misquote on their university homepages.  I am disappointed and saddened to find that the quote virus has wormed its way into the hallowed halls of academia.

Most Amusing Find

I found today’s misquote on a quotes-only website where the administrator claims his website is different from all others because his quotes are unique.  He writes, “Unlike other websites which source their quotes from some other websites, I handpick quotes from magazines, articles, interviews, newspapers, books etc. so users get a plethora of unique and interesting quotes.”  The funny/sad thing is his site not only features today’s misquote but also features other commonly misattributed quotes.  In reality, his site is just like the rest of them—unverified and unreliable.

Bibliophile Websites Are Not Reliable Sources for Quotes

One would think that a bibliophile website would be a great resource for book quotes.  After all, this is a place where avid readers communicate and share their love of books.  However, I came across five book-lover websites that feature today’s misquote.  I’ve also seen this phenomenon while doing research for previous blog posts.  It appears that even though these people profess their love for books, not all of them are genuine and are getting their quotes from quote websites, social media, or sources other than the actual book they are quoting.  So the moral is do not trust quotes found on these websites.

For Sale

As with so many of my previous posts, today’s misquote is also available for purchase.  I found a necklace offered for $10.96 and a bracelet for $34.00.  But wait! It gets better.  You can also purchase a heart pendant necklace on sale for just $24.98; the regular price is $55.00.  So my question is, “what happened?”  Did the price get reduced because someone realized the quote on the pendant was inaccurate?  Hmm . . . Something tells me that’s wishful thinking on my part (smile, wink, chuckle).

Final Analysis

In conclusion, never trust quotes on social media.  Never trust quotes from quote websites.  Never trust quotes found on academic websites.  Never trust quotes from bibliophile websites.  Never trust quotes found on merchandise for sale.

Only use quotes from a source that contains verified AND detailed source information with each quote.  The name attribution alone is not sufficient.  It should be accompanied by the title of the work in which the quote is found as well as relevant information such as chapter, act, scene, line number, stanza, etc.

Kill the Quote Virus

We can only exterminate the quote virus through education.  Please share the knowledge by forwarding this post to family and friends.  You can also “like” my Facebook fan page or follow me @SueBrewton on Twitter to help spread the word.

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton

Walt Whitman vs. Henry Miller

/ Sue Brewton / 2 Comments

The subject of today’s post is a quote that is often misattributed to Walt Whitman.  The correct source is actually Henry Miller.  Read on to learn who is responsible for perpetuating this misquote.

The Misattributed Quote

✘“Do anything, but let it produce joy.”
Walt Whitman

The Correct Quote

✓“Do anything, but let it produce joy.”
Henry Miller
Tropic of Cancer
Chapter 13

The Correct Work of Origin is Tropic of Cancer

Henry Miller’s novel Tropic of Cancer published in 1934 is the work in which the quote is found.  Here is the quote featured in chapter 13.

The Quote Found in 'Tropic of Cancer' by Henry Miller

The Quote Found in ‘Tropic of Cancer’ by Henry Miller

Here is the book title page.

Title Page of 'Tropic of Cancer' by Henry Miller

Title Page of ‘Tropic of Cancer’ by Henry Miller

Statistics

After surveying 115 websites featuring the misattributed quote, I found the following trends.

Percentage Type of Website
39%    Social Media
24%    Corporation/corporate individual
12%    Quotes only
6%     Informational (sports, science, news, etc.)
5%     Online app or service
3%     Quotes a major feature
3%     Academic/educational/school
3%     Quotes paraphernalia for purchase
3%     Discussion forum
2%     Organization

The Source of the Misattributed Quote

In a rare twist of events it is not the usual quotes-only websites that are the major offenders in propagating a misquote.  Out of the 115 websites featuring this misattributed quote, I found it is social media that is the main culprit.  As I have discussed in previous posts, the quote virus thrives through social media.  Every time a misquote is posted on a social media website, it becomes a contagion waiting to be spread via sharing, retweeting, repinning, etc.  Much like a physiological virus, the quote virus multiplies by moving from a single person to all others who follow that person, and each of those people spread it to all of their followers who spread it to all of their followers and so on and so forth.

The Source of the Work Can Also Be Misattributed

Most quotes found on the internet and in quote books simply attribute the author of the quote and do not include the work in which the quote is found.  However, today’s misquote is unusual in that 37% of the websites I surveyed cite Walt Whitman’s poetry anthology Leaves of Grass in addition to his name.  Clearly whoever originated the misquote included the work and then most people who propagated it copied the entire citation.  So not only is the author incorrect but the work of origin is incorrect.

Quote Books Are Not Always Reliable

I came across a book of quotes published in 2014 that includes today’s misattributed quote.  This author clearly did not research her subject matter and, unfortunately, will now be another source of misquote propagation.  As I’ve mentioned before, just because a book is solely dedicated to quotes does not mean it contains accurate quotes.  Be wary of quote books that do not include detailed source information.  For example, if Leaves of Grass is cited, it should include the title of the poem and the section and line number(s) featuring the quote.  The author’s name alone is not sufficient.

Educators Are Also Guilty of Misquotes

Unfortunately, the quote virus has infiltrated our educational system.  I came across two elementary school websites featuring today’s misattributed quote on teacher bios.  It is disappointing that a teacher wouldn’t take the time to find a legitimate quote out of a work s/he actually read.  A school is the one place one would hope to find reliable information.  With the proliferation of so much inaccurate data on the internet, this is not the case.  Even educators have fallen victim to the quote virus.

False Advertising

I came across an e-book service that offers Leaves of Grass as a free download.  The funny (sad) thing is that the description next to Whitman’s book includes Henry Miller’s quote.  This is obviously very misleading.

I also stumbled upon a rare books website selling a second edition of Leaves of Grass for $15,000.  This website also places today’s misattributed quote next to the Whitman’s book.  More false advertising.

Most Amusing Find

I discovered a floral design business actually called Leaves of Grass Designs, and the misquote is the first thing listed under the website’s “About” page.  It is followed by claims they will bring “joy” to your event and that their flowers are “joyful.”  Clearly, this business was named after a misquote.

For Sale

There are many websites offering misquotes for sale, and today’s misquote is no exception.  For example, I found t-shirts ranging from $17.95 to $20.95 as well as greeting cards in a box set of eight for $24.00.  I would say that’s a pretty good profit for flawed merchandise.

Kill the Quote Virus

I will close once again with a plea to you, dear reader, to help kill the quote virus.  Please practice safe quoting by following the tips on my “What You Can Do” page.  You can also help by sharing the knowledge.  Forward this post to family and friends or “like” my Facebook fan page or follow me on Twitter.  And remember:  don’t trust any quotes sent to you via social media.  Check them out before sharing them.

“Be the antidote and don’t misquote.”

©Sue Brewton