Not Your Basis Quote Site
Not Your Typical Quotes Site: Putting Quotes In Context And Common Sense
Get long form explanations of your favorite quote! More than just a single quote with no attribution, our long form pieces bring quotes to life.
About Quotes Explained
Quotes are powerful. That’s why we love them. They are efficient, tight and engaging in the way a one liner comedy joke is. The problem is that some of societies most powerful quotes are either taken out of context, misattributed or never said at all. That’s where we come in.
QuotesExplained is a website dedicated to not just the cataloguing of famous quotes but putting them into the correct context that everyone can understand and is in line with the authors intentions (as best as one can be).
While there are already great resources out there for detecting and catching fake quotes, we'll also go a step further in debunking fake quotes by speculating about what sociopolitical forces may have existed at the time the fabrication first appeared.
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Culture
A section devoted to just quotes that altered culture. Whether it be the changing the culture of the time or contemporary culture in the wake of the quote, we'll use this section of the site to explain its impact.
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Philosophy
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Literature
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History
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Fake Quotes
7 quotes
Trending quotes
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Never Trust A Computer You Can't Throw Out A Window Steve Wozniak
Who said Never Trust A Computer You Can't Throw Out A Window? Was it in fact Steve Wozniak? Let's talk about it.
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Of All Men's Miseries, The Bitterest Is This Herodotus
The Greek writer Herodotus may be most known to for his line “Of all men's miseries the bitterest is this: to know so much and to have control over nothing.”
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A Coward Dies A Thousand Deaths, Julius Caesar
What did Caesar mean when he said a coward dies a thousand deaths? We'll discuss all of that, as well as the context of the quote and more.
Julius Caesar
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What is History But a Fable Agreed Upon
When Napoleon Bonaparte allegedly stated, 'What is history but a fable agreed upon?', he challenged our fundamental understanding of historical truth. This skeptical view—from a man who actively shaped his own historical narrative—invites us to question who writes history, why, and what perspectives remain untold. In today's era of competing narratives and 'alternative facts,' Napoleon's insight remains remarkably relevant, reminding us that history is never simply a collection of facts, but a constructed narrative reflecting the biases and power dynamics of its time.
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He Who Has A Why To Live Can Bear Almost Any How
Let's breakdown Friedrich Nietzsche's famous quote, 'He who has a why to live can bear almost any how'. Discover its deep-rooted meaning in the context of Nietzsche's philosophy, its relevance in the modern world, and the enduring influence it holds.
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Be The Change That You Wish To See In The World Ghandi
Read more about the famous Ghandi quote "be the change that you wish to see in the world."
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Fear is the Mind-Killer Dune Quote Explained
Who said "Fear is the mind-killer?" The short answer is that it's a quote from Frank Herbert's novel "Dune". The phrase is part of a litany against fear, which the protagonist, Paul Atreides, learns from his mother, Lady Jessica, who is a member of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.
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Speak to Your Children as If They Are the Wisest Quote
Discover the meaning and impact of Brooke Hampton's inspiring quote on parenting and child development. Learn how to nurture self-esteem, empathy, and self-belief in your children, shaping their future for the better.
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I'm Not Telling You It's Going to Be Easy, I'm Telling You It's Going to Be Worth it - Art Williams
Who said ""I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it?" and what did he mean? Let's talk about it.
Art Williams
Fake quotes
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Always Remember You Are Braver Than You Believe, Stronger Than You Seem, Smarter Than You Think, and Loved More Than You Know
Discover the inspiring quote often attributed to A.A. Milne, "Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know." Explore its origins, meaning, related quotes, and practical tips for applying its wisdom to your life.
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To Be Yourself In A World That Is Constantly Trying To Make You Something Else Explained
Explore the often-attributed quote to Ralph Waldo Emerson, "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment," and its connection to individualism and self-reliance.
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Rivers Do Not Drink Their Own Water Pope Francis
Pope Francis is claimed to have said "Rivers Do Not Drink Their Own Water" to begin a beautiful poem. But did he say it? Probably not.
Not Pope Francis
Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions people ask us and the answers (as of right now).
Can I suggest a Quote?
Yes! Head to our contact page and tell us which quote you have questions about. Please be sure to provide some context (who wrote it, who is claimed to have written it..etc).
How does QuotesExplained make money?
Right now, we only currently monetize the site through periodic advertisements that may be displayed throughout the website. Please note that we do not endorse any claim that may appear within an advertisement or the content to which the advertisement links to.
Can I submit my own critical analysis?
Yes! We're just beginning to accept the critical analysis of quotes from the public. While we're setting a more formal review and submission process you may, in the meantime, submit analysis on the contact page.
As long as the critical analysis fits within one of our primary categories (Literature, Philosophy, History or a review of a Fake Quote) we'll publish it. Official submission guidelines are coming soon.
What if I disagree with your analysis ?
For every quote page on the website there is a corresponding form where you can indicate when (you think) an error has been made. On the form please indicate the error and provide necessary sources to support your claim. Additionally, you can provide any content (a website, a social media account, your own book...etc) that you can plug if your claim turns out to be correct.
Can I cite QuotesExplained on my paper ?
Yes you may. For help citing our website in the correct format, visit Purdue's OWL (which stands for Online Writing Lab--a resource you should be using anyways) for official formatting guidelines. If the post shows as being written by an anonymous author, just indicate the website URL, date, and date accessed.
Is QuotesExplained Free to Use?
Yes! Our goal is that this website is forever free to use by the public. However we can't promise that forever. What we can promise is that, as of right now and the foreseeable future, QuotesExplained is free to all users.