Authority Quote by Louis Menand
“Public circulation is what renders something a quotation. It's quotable because it's been quoted, and its having been quoted gives it authority.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 2005
A statement becomes a quotation when it is repeated often, gaining authority through its circulation.
In simple terms: Quotes gain power by being repeated.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the influence of repeated ideas.
Themes
authority
repetition
culture
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
observational
educational
When to use this quote
- media analysis
- public speaking
- academic writing
- marketing
- political rhetoric
Key Concepts
social proof
memetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does repetition affect truth?
- When does a quote become a cliché?
A Different Perspective
Authority may be misplaced if the original context is lost.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
![“[According to Holmes], ‘Every year if not every day we have to wager our salvation upon some prophecy based upon imperfect knowledge. While that experiment is part of our system I think that we should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe and…” quote by Louis Menand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/656/louis-menand-8583_death_according-to-holmes-every-year-if-not-ev_403601.jpg)
