Abuse Quote by Nigel Rees
“My toils in the quotation field have led me to formulate two or three laws about the way people use and abuse quotations. My first law is: When in doubt, ascribe all quotations to Bernard Shaw - which I don't mean to be taken literally, but as a general observation of the habit people have of attaching remarks to the nearest obvious speaker. Churchill, Wilde, Orson Welles and Alexander Woollcott are other useful figures upon whom to father remarks when you don't know who really said them.”
About This Quote
People habitually attribute memorable lines to famous figures, often misquoting or inventing sources, which distorts intellectual honesty.
In simple terms: Misattribution spreads false authority.
Key Takeaway
Verify sources before citing.
Themes
quotations
misattribution
authority
intellectual honesty
culture
Mood
critical
wry
Type
observation
cautionary
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- journalism
- social media posts
Key Concepts
citation practices
social psychology
Practical Applications
- citation guidelines
- fact‑checking tools
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we gravitate toward famous names?
- How can we improve source verification?
