Dirty Quote by James Cagney
“I never said, 'MMMmmm, you dirty rat!”
About This Quote
Source Film: The Public Enemy, 1931
A character boasts about not using a catchphrase, highlighting a misunderstanding or misattribution of dialogue
In simple terms: The speaker never actually said that line
Key Takeaway
Recognize when quotes are misattributed
Themes
misattribution
media
communication
Mood
skeptical
informative
Type
cautionary
educational
When to use this quote
- media reporting
- social media
- academic citation
Key Concepts
intellectual honesty
source verification
Questions to Reflect On
- How often do you verify a quote before sharing?
- What impact does a misquote have on credibility?
A Different Perspective
Misattributions can spread quickly and distort perception
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
