The art of quotation requires more delicacy in the practice than those conceive who can see nothing more in a quotation than an extract.
One may quote till one compiles.
The wisdom of the wise and the experience of ages may be preserved by quotation.
A book which hath been culled from the flowers of all books.
A great man quotes bravely, and will not draw on his invention when his memory serves him with a word as good.
By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we quote. We quote not only books and proverbs, but arts, sciences, religion, customs, and laws; nay, we quote temples and houses, tables and chairs by imitation.
Next to the originator of a good sentence is the first quoter of it.
We are as much informed of a writer's genius by what he selects as by what he originates.
Every quotation contributes something to the stability or enlargement of the language.
Classical quotation is the parole of literary men all over the world.
C'est souvent hasarder un bon mot et vouloir le perdre que de le dormer pour sien.
A good saying often runs the risk of being thrown away when quoted as the speaker's own.
'Twas not an Age ago since most of our Books were nothing but Collections of Latin Quotations; there was not above a line or two of French in a Page.
Though old the thought and oft exprest,
'Tis his at last who says it best.
Comme quelqu'un pourroit dire de moy, que j'ay seulement faict icy un amas de fleurs estrangieres, n'y ayant fourny du mien que le filet à les lier.
As one might say of me that I have only made here a collection of other people's flowers, having provided nothing of my own but the cord to bind them together.
. . . I have seen books made of things neither studied nor ever understood . . . the author contenting himself for his own part, to have cast the plot and projected the design of it, and by his industry to have bound up the fagot of unknown provisions; at least the ink and paper his own. This may be said to be a buying or borrowing, and not a making or compiling of a book.
Nor suffers Horace more in wrong translations
By wits, than critics in as wrong quotations.
He ranged his tropes, and preached up patience,
Backed bis opinion with quotations.
Always to verify your references.
The little honesty existing among authors is to be seen in the outrageous way in which they misquote from the writings of others.
They had been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps.
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
A forward critic often dupes us
With sham quotations peri hupsos.
And if we have not read Longinus,
Will magisterially outshine us.
Then, lest with Greek he over-run ye,
Procure the book for love or money,
Translated from Boileau's translation,
And quote quotation on quotation.
I am but a gatherer and disposer of other men's stuff.
To patchwork learn'd quotations are allied,
Both strive to make our poverty our pride.
Some, for renown, on scraps of learning dote,
And think they grow immortal as they quote.
