12 Famous Historical Quotes That Were Never Actually Said
These 12 widely believed quotes are often repeated, but the people they’re attributed to never actually said them.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Some quotes stick in our memory and get passed down through generations, often tied to famous figures. However, not all of them are real. Over time, speeches, writings, and stories have been misquoted or outright invented. These 12 examples show how easy it is for false quotes to become part of our historical knowledge.
1. “Let them eat cake.” – Marie Antoinette
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Marie Antoinette is often blamed for saying this phrase when told that French peasants had no bread. The quote is used to show her supposed disregard for the poor. However, there’s no evidence she ever said it. Historians believe it appeared in literature decades earlier and was wrongly attributed to her during the French Revolution.
2. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
David Dixon on Wikimedia Commons
This popular quote appears everywhere from posters to social media, credited to Gandhi. However, there’s no record of him saying or writing it in that exact form. The message aligns with his philosophy, but the exact words were likely paraphrased or invented later. It’s an example of how people often reshape complex ideas into simple slogans.
3. “The British are coming!” – Paul Revere
Edward Mason Eggleston on Wikimedia Commons
Paul Revere did ride to warn of British troops, but he never shouted this phrase. At the time, most colonists still saw themselves as British, so yelling that wouldn’t have made sense. He likely gave quiet warnings to specific leaders. The dramatic version came much later through poems and retellings.
4. “I cannot tell a lie.” – George Washington
Gilbert Stuart on Wikimedia Commons
This line comes from a famous story about young George Washington confessing to chopping down a cherry tree. It’s meant to show his honesty, but there’s no historical basis for the tale. It was invented by a biographer years after Washington’s death. The story became popular in schoolbooks but isn’t based on fact.
5. “Elementary, my dear Watson.” – Sherlock Holmes
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People often quote this as one of Sherlock Holmes’ most iconic lines. However, Arthur Conan Doyle never wrote it in that exact form in any of the original stories. The phrase was pieced together by later adaptations, especially in early film versions. It became popular through repetition, not the original text.
6. “Money is the root of all evil.” – The Bible
Joshua Keller on Wikimedia Commons
This quote is commonly used, but it’s a misquote of the Bible. The original verse (1 Timothy 6:10) says, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” That small change shifts the meaning significantly. The misquoted version oversimplifies what the scripture actually says.
7. “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” – Abraham Lincoln
Alexander Gardner on Wikimedia Commons
This clever quote is often credited to Abraham Lincoln, but many historical figures have been linked to it over time. The actual origin is unclear, though a version appears in a letter by Blaise Pascal in the 1600s. It expresses the idea that being brief takes more effort than writing at length. Lincoln likely never said it, despite the popular attribution.
8. “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire
Nicolas de Largillière on Wikimedia Commons
This quote is commonly linked to Voltaire, who was known for supporting free speech. However, it was actually written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, a biographer, to summarize Voltaire’s beliefs. She never meant it as a direct quote. Over time, people began to attribute it directly to Voltaire, and the misquote stuck.
9. “Blood, sweat, and tears.” – Winston Churchill
Central Office of Information on Wikimedia Commons
Churchill did say something similar, but his actual quote was more complex. In a speech from 1940, he said he had nothing to offer but “blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” Over time, people shortened the quote and omitted two words. The simplified version became more famous than the original.
10. “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” – Gloria Steinem
Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
This feminist quote is often attributed to Gloria Steinem, but she didn’t come up with it. It was first written by Australian artist Irina Dunn in 1970. Steinem helped popularize it by quoting it in interviews, which led to confusion. Dunn’s authorship has since been confirmed.
11. “Great minds think alike.” – Unknown
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This phrase is usually meant as a compliment, but it’s actually incomplete. The full original version is, “Great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ,” which adds a different meaning. The second half suggests that agreement isn’t always a sign of intelligence. Over time, the phrase was shortened, and the original point was lost.
12. “Nice guys finish last.” – Leo Durocher
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Baseball manager Leo Durocher is credited with this quote, but the original context was different. He was talking about a specific losing team when he said something like “the nice guys are all over there, in seventh place.” It was later shortened and turned into a general phrase about life. Durocher said the revised version didn’t reflect his actual meaning.