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Who's the most misquoted person in History?
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| Lira |
The more you read, the more you remember the words of others so it's not uncommon to quote someone your admire or quickly paraphrase the ideas of someone who you think hit the nail on the head. However, if you don't read that much and want to look smrt, you can always rely on a famous quote because everyone knows the author and you just take its accuracy for granted.
Go through Voltaire's writings. Now. Browse each and every one of his hundreds of published works and look for the following excerpt:I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Ever present in pointless discussions even here on TA, this has got to be his most famous quote — much to his dismay should he be alive, because he never said it. Ever. And it's very unlikely that he'd even say it if he were given the opportunity, because he wasn't really quite the martyr.
If God does not exist, everything is permitted . This is yet another famous quote, supposedly by Dostoevsky. Well, this is supposed to be an idea present in the book "Brothers Karamazov" but he never actually wrote that using those words. This is at best, a paraphrase, so there's something awkward about saying "as Dostoevsky said" before or right after that string of words.
Can you think of some more examples? Who do you think is the most misquoted person in History? Mind you, I said person so supernatural entities and fictional characters are hors concours. |
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| Cpt.Cocaine |
"I think therefore I am".
Not really a misquote, but if 1% of the people who use that quote even knew where it came from or what it meant. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| Jesus comes to mind, though that may violate your stipulation on fiction. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by Cpt.Cocaine
"I think therefore I am".
Not really a misquote, but if 1% of the people who use that quote even knew where it came from or what it meant. |
Probably. By the way, do you know how he died?
He one day went to a French café and ordered some coffee. The waiter brought his coffee and asked dutifully:
"Would you like some sugar with that, monsieur Descartes?"
To which he said "I think not"...
... and disappeared :(
:D |
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| Lews |
Jack Swigert (From Apollo 13)
He said "Houston, we've had a problem," not "Houston, we have a problem." |
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| Cpt.Cocaine |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Probably. By the way, do you know how he died?
He one day went to a French café and ordered some coffee. The waiter brought his coffee and asked dutifully:
"Would you like some sugar with that, monsieur Descartes?"
To which he said "I think not"...
... and disappeared :(
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That happened to me once. |
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| Silky Johnson |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lews
Jack Swigert (From Apollo 13)
He said "Houston, we've had a problem," not "Houston, we have a problem." |
:stongue: :stongue: |
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| Silky Johnson |
| Who else misses JBJ? :/ |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Who else misses JBJ? :/ |
I do... but why? |
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| Silky Johnson |
| Pointless discussions, etc. |
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| Sushipunk |
Who's the most misquoted person?
Anyone from Star Wars, apparently. |
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| Vividbanned |
"come at me bro!"
-ronnie Jersey shore
it was actually the hick that said it first. and ronnie was like no you come at me. |
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