How we verify quotes

Many famous quotes are misquoted or wrongly credited. Must Repeat publishes a quote only when we can point you to where it comes from. Every quote carries one of two labels, and shows its source directly underneath.

✓ Verified

We matched the exact words against the original document, in a scholarly edition of it or an archive’s own transcription or image. Other transcriptions can back that up, but they are not enough on their own. We name the source, give its date, and add the page, chapter or timestamp. Where it is online, we link to it so you can check.

≈ Attributed

We could not reach the primary source, but a reputable secondary source credits the person with the words, such as a scholarly work, an established reference, or published research by a reliable archive. We cite that source. Attributed is a more cautious label than Verified. It tells you who vouches for the quote, not that the original has been seen.

Exact words

We give the words as the source has them, including its spelling and punctuation, even when that differs from the version you may know. If we leave part of a sentence out, an ellipsis (…) marks the cut. If a source and a popular version disagree, we follow the source.

What we do not publish

• Lines the person was only repeating from someone else.
• Quotes with no source we can check.
• Quotes that appear only on other quote websites, with nothing earlier behind them.
• Quotes where the sources disagree about who said them, until that is settled.

Dates

Dates are shown as precisely as the source allows. A year alone means we only know the year. c. before a year means “about”.

Found a mistake?

Tell us through the contact page. A link to the source you used helps us check it. If a quote turns out to be wrong, we correct it or take it down.