Quotable Quotes
There is something about quotes that makes us remember them, collect them and even repeat them to others. Quotes can be serious, inspirational, witty and even nonsensical—but they are always memorable which is why we continue to quote them and pass them along to others. There are memorable quotes for every subject matter and to suit every purpose. From term papers to wedding toasts, quotes lend themselves to a variety of situations. There are even those who are exceptionally quotable like Winston Churchill, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain and Mae West.
So what is about a quote that makes it memorable? Are there prerequisites for a quote being passed down through posterity? It seems that one prerequisite is that the person quoted enjoys some degree of fame. This is generally true, but not always. There are sayings that people repeat everyday, which must have originated somewhere, and many quotes from anonymous sources like “raining cats and dogs” and “live and let live.” Still, fame certainly fosters the life of a quote. One may be famous for politics, religion, teaching, science, popular culture, writing, or any particular subject and be remembered for saying something witty or relevant to the topic at hand.
Actors and actresses who are in the spotlight are often quoted and their speech is given a good amount of press. We remember them for their wisdom and at times even the comic nature of their ignorance. Writers are frequently quoted because their works are lasting and are easily referred to. Politicians like presidents and prime ministers are also heavily quoted, but then their speeches are highly publicized and well documented. Their quotes are valued for their historic nature as well as inspirational qualities; at times, they are remembered for other reasons like the infamous quote by Richard Nixon, “I am not a crook.”
It may be interesting to note that one does not even need to be a popular person to be quoted—books are often quoted whose authors have been lost to time like the Bible or Talmud. Today, it is especially popular to quote characters like the Simpsons, Garfield or the Southpark kids. Even the talking Taco Bell dog enjoyed his day in the limelight along with his peculiar breed of quotations.
But whoever it is that first says them, the underlying power of quotes is that we remember them and continue to share them with others. Some only enjoy a brief time of sharing; popular songs often launch these temporarily famous quotes like when Hammer had the youth of America mimicking “you can’t touch this.” Others are more lasting like Shakespeare’s “blessed are the peacemakers on earth” or Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
We remember quotes that make us laugh like Mark Twain’s “when angry, count four; when very angry, swear.” We remember quotes that mark an important time or event like the opening to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, “four score and seven years ago.” We remember quotes that inspire us in some fundamental way like Anne Frank’s “in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Some quotes take our breath away with the brevity of their subject matter, some make us chuckle with the ease of their wit and finally, some are simply so original that we cannot help but remember them.
When reading through quotes, you will invariably discover new voices that have the power to influence you in some way. Collect your favorite quotes and reuse them from time to time when out to dinner, on the telephone, writing a paper, conversing on the train, or preparing a speech. Quotes may be asserted wherever communication occurs and placing them in an appropriate situation often fills a much-needed niche—a good quote is always appreciated and you will equally be appreciated for sharing it!
So what is about a quote that makes it memorable? Are there prerequisites for a quote being passed down through posterity? It seems that one prerequisite is that the person quoted enjoys some degree of fame. This is generally true, but not always. There are sayings that people repeat everyday, which must have originated somewhere, and many quotes from anonymous sources like “raining cats and dogs” and “live and let live.” Still, fame certainly fosters the life of a quote. One may be famous for politics, religion, teaching, science, popular culture, writing, or any particular subject and be remembered for saying something witty or relevant to the topic at hand.
Actors and actresses who are in the spotlight are often quoted and their speech is given a good amount of press. We remember them for their wisdom and at times even the comic nature of their ignorance. Writers are frequently quoted because their works are lasting and are easily referred to. Politicians like presidents and prime ministers are also heavily quoted, but then their speeches are highly publicized and well documented. Their quotes are valued for their historic nature as well as inspirational qualities; at times, they are remembered for other reasons like the infamous quote by Richard Nixon, “I am not a crook.”
It may be interesting to note that one does not even need to be a popular person to be quoted—books are often quoted whose authors have been lost to time like the Bible or Talmud. Today, it is especially popular to quote characters like the Simpsons, Garfield or the Southpark kids. Even the talking Taco Bell dog enjoyed his day in the limelight along with his peculiar breed of quotations.
But whoever it is that first says them, the underlying power of quotes is that we remember them and continue to share them with others. Some only enjoy a brief time of sharing; popular songs often launch these temporarily famous quotes like when Hammer had the youth of America mimicking “you can’t touch this.” Others are more lasting like Shakespeare’s “blessed are the peacemakers on earth” or Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
We remember quotes that make us laugh like Mark Twain’s “when angry, count four; when very angry, swear.” We remember quotes that mark an important time or event like the opening to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, “four score and seven years ago.” We remember quotes that inspire us in some fundamental way like Anne Frank’s “in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Some quotes take our breath away with the brevity of their subject matter, some make us chuckle with the ease of their wit and finally, some are simply so original that we cannot help but remember them.
When reading through quotes, you will invariably discover new voices that have the power to influence you in some way. Collect your favorite quotes and reuse them from time to time when out to dinner, on the telephone, writing a paper, conversing on the train, or preparing a speech. Quotes may be asserted wherever communication occurs and placing them in an appropriate situation often fills a much-needed niche—a good quote is always appreciated and you will equally be appreciated for sharing it!
