Fake Quotes and Why
Did Albert Einstein really come up with the definition of insanity? Or does George Washington really think that you need God and the bible to run a country? Fake quotes are a pariah on our understanding of historical events. They make it near impossible to do accurate scholarship and give an even handed account of the events as they happened.
An actual quote about fake quotes, comes from Matt Levatich who tweeted on June 27, 2018:
“It's shameful we live in a time when people create fake-quotes. There's one attributed to me on Twitter. I have not, nor would I ever speak about the President of the United States or anyone else in that way.”
This is a quote that the authors of a paper published in the Journal of Pragmatics, titled Creation, dissemination and uptake of fake-quotes in lay political discourse on Facebook and Twitter were quick to point out. The authors in the highly cited paper point out that though the issue and frequency of the problem proliferate the internet, solutions and resolutions to the problem remain scarce.
In this section of the site, we're going to identify fake quotes, attempt to make sure they are indeed fake quotes, and also look at the reasons for why they may have been fabricated (and caught on with the general public). Many other websites, such as Quote Investigator, do an admirable job at applying scholarship to this much needed space in society. However at QuotesExplained, we're going to go attempt to go one step further and look at the motivations for false attributions and full sale fabrications of quotes. The hope is that we may find a trend that may help predict future manifestations of the same problem.
A recurring theme within the (scarce) academic literature on the subject and contemporary news sources (as well as this website) is how hard it is to prove a negative. It is incredibly easy for someone to claim a quote happened, however actually proving that a specific person did in fact say that quote, at that specific time, in that specific place is a problem for not just historians but all of society. We're going to try and remedy that in whatever limited fashion we can.
All Fake Quotes quotes
7 articles-
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.
-
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.
-
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 -
Survival of the Fittest Charles Darwin
The phrase "Survival of the Fittest" has become so attached to revolutionary Biologist Charles Darwin that it may come as a shock to many to hear that he never actually said such a phrase. In fact it is so attached to him (we'll get to it) that it may seem foolish to even write a post claiming he never said such a thing. However, as futile as it may be, we will nonetheless take a stab at it in this post.
Charles Darwin -
The Ends Justify The Means Niccolo Machiavelli
Did Niccolo Machiavelli say that The Ends Justify The Means? Well, not exactly but it's a little complicated. We'll address that and more.
Niccolo Machiavelli -
Insanity is Doing The Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results
Read more about the quote "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results", and who said it.
-
Impossible to Run a Country Without God and the Bible George Washington
Similar to our piece on Albert Einstein's fake quote, George Washington's high esteem amongst Americans seems to be a contributing factor in the sheer volume of fake quotes attributed to him. One such famous one that seems to get ignition periodically is the claim that Washington, a fierce and devoted secularist, once said that it is "impossible to run a country without God and the Bible." We'll discuss motives, facts and related issues regarding this quote on this page.
George Washington
