Belief Quote by Hesketh Pearson
“Misquotation is the pride and privilege of the learned.”
About This Quote
Scholars often misquote, using it to showcase their erudition.
In simple terms: Learned people misquote to seem smart.
Key Takeaway
Beware of false authority.
Themes
knowledge
pride
misinformation
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- education
- research
- public speaking
Key Concepts
academic culture
citation errors
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people misquote?
- How can we verify sources?
A Different Perspective
Not all misquotations are intentional.
![“[An example of misattribution:] If you don’t know the source of a quote, you can always make it sound better by attributing it to me. — Mark Twain” quote by Jakub Marian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/693/jakub-marian-49386_citation_an-example-of-misattribution-if-you-don_2281459.jpg)
![“[D]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without a conscience a man may never be said to grow old. This is an age of very old young men.” quote by Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/076/hesketh-pearson-35291_age_d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-w_14010.jpg)
