People love to use quotes in their writing to enhance meaning or add depth. However, the wrong use of quotations can destroy a perfectly good paper and reduce your grade. Therefore, it is important to understand the actual meaning and context of a quote so you can use it properly.
Moreover, people may also wrongly attribute quotes to famous writers, thinkers, or political figures. So, it is important to always determine that the author of a quote is properly named. So, when I write my essay , I tend to confirm from multiple and reliable sources that the quote is correct and I understand its meaning.
Some of the famous quotes that are often misused include the following.
Blood is thicker than water
This quote is wrongly adapted from the Bible. The actual quote is longer and has a very different meaning from what is generally assumed about this quote. The actual quote is ‘the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.’ As covenant is harder to say, so it has become simplified to its current form for common use. The meaning of the real quote is that the bloodshed during battle is more sacred than the ties of family and the womb. Which is completely different from the wrongly assumed meaning.
Rome was not built in a day
This English translation is adapted from a French phrase and it has various adaptations. One version says that Rome wasn’t built in a day but it burned in one.
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
This is a very famous quote that has been attributed to Voltaire who was a great novelist of his time and is still recognized for his writings. However, this quote was actually said by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, almost a century later.
Using quotes appropriately can enhance the quality of your writing and support your opinions. However, never forget to verify the meaning and the context of the quote to write like an expert essay writer . You should be certain about the origin and meaning of the quote before using it.
The ends justifies the means.
This quote has been attributed to Nicolo Machiavelli in the Prince but it was never said by him. Although the concept is reflected in the novel, it does not expressly say it. Machiavelli writes that one must consider the results which is a less declarative statement.
Well behaved women rarely make history
This quote is attributed to Marilyn Monroe and it is used to explain her personality beyond the glamorized version. Marilyn was much more than just beautiful, she was an intelligent woman and she was unhindered by societal norms. However, this quote was actually said by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich who is a professor at Harvard.
Let them eat cake
The full quote is ‘if they have no bread, let them eat cake’ which is also wrongly attributed to Marie Antoinette. This quote is attributed to the flamboyance of Versailles and the detachment from the reality of people. It was anti-monarchy propaganda material used during that time by the opponents. However, this line is inspired by the writing of Jacques Rousseau in Confessions where a princess was told that the farmers had no bread and she responded that they should eat brioche.
Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated
This quote is rightly associated with Mark Twain but the context of understanding it is wrong. It was not a prematurely printed obituary, rather it was the response of Mark Twain to the reporter who inquired about his health.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing
This quote has been wrongly attributed to Edmund Burke who is the father of conservatism. This quote has been popular since the 19th century, but it was popularized by John Kennedy in a speech. The original quote goes like ‘When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.’
Now is the winter of our discontent
This quote was said by Ethan Hawke in Reality Bites in a scene that indicates its use for existential anguish and darkness. However, the actual quote is derived from the quote by Shakespeare in Richard III which goes like ‘Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York.’ The meaning in the full sentence is very different from the one used in the movie. It actually means that something good is about to happen despite the darkness.
Conclusion
People love to use quotes for their social media accounts carelessly, but that attitude cannot work with academic writing. You should always be absolutely certain about your sources and their meaning. If you have any confusion, you may contact an essay writing service to proofread your essay. This will ensure you get good grades.
Some very famous quotes attributed to Mark Twain, Gandhi, and George Washington were never said by them. Many quotes were altered and rephrased after the death of the people who said them.
If you wrongly attribute or wrongly use a quote, it will make your essay less authentic and you would lose grades. Your readers or your professor will think that you did not read or research enough for your essay.