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Quizzes > General Knowledge & Mixed

Who Said It Quiz: Match Famous Quotes to Their Authors

Quick, 10-question quiz to test your famous quotes trivia. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Iven FroeseUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to a Famous Quotes Attribution Quiz.

This quiz helps you identify who said it by matching iconic lines to their authors in 10 quick multiple-choice questions. For more practice, try the who said it quiz, challenge yourself with the Taylor Swift or Shakespeare quiz, or dive into a Hamlet quotes quiz.

Who said, "To be, or not to be: that is the question"?
William Shakespeare
Thomas Kyd
John Milton
Christopher Marlowe
This line opens Hamlet's soliloquy in Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet'. It is one of the most famous lines in English literature attributed to William Shakespeare.
Who is credited with the statement, "I think, therefore I am"?
Jean-Paul Sartre
Immanuel Kant
René Descartes
Francis Bacon
René Descartes coined this foundational philosophical statement in his 'Meditations on First Philosophy'. It expresses the certainty of self-consciousness.
Which leader famously declared, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"?
Theodore Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Winston Churchill
Franklin D. Roosevelt said this during his first inaugural address to reassure Americans during the Great Depression. It remains one of his most memorable lines.
Who uttered the words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"?
Buzz Aldrin
Yuri Gagarin
Neil Armstrong
Alan Shepard
Neil Armstrong spoke this phrase as he became the first human to step onto the Moon in 1969. It has since become a symbol of space exploration.
Who wrote, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"?
Moses
King Solomon
David
Isaiah
This opening verse of Genesis in the Bible is traditionally attributed to Moses. It introduces the Biblical account of creation.
Who famously said, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee"?
George Foreman
Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
Mike Tyson
Muhammad Ali used this poetic phrase to describe his boxing style. It captures his speed and power in the ring.
Who said, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration"?
Thomas Edison
Benjamin Franklin
Albert Einstein
Nikola Tesla
Thomas Edison emphasized the hard work behind invention with this statement. It highlights process over sudden insight.
Who originally said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results"?
Mark Twain
Albert Einstein
Rita Mae Brown
Oscar Wilde
Although often misattributed to Einstein, this quip is first recorded in Rita Mae Brown's 1983 novel *Sudden Death*. It warns against rigid repetition.
Who stated, "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"?
Plato
Aristotle
Confucius
Socrates
This paradoxical remark is attributed to Socrates and comes from Plato's accounts. It highlights humility in philosophical inquiry.
Who is credited with, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world"?
Nelson Mandela
Mother Teresa
Martin Luther King Jr.
Mahatma Gandhi
This inspirational call to personal responsibility is commonly attributed to Gandhi. It encourages leading by example.
Who declared, "The unexamined life is not worth living"?
Cicero
Plato
Seneca
Socrates
Socrates expressed this sentiment at his trial, as recorded by Plato, to emphasize the importance of self-reflection.
Who said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"?
Winston Churchill
Voltaire
Thomas Jefferson
George Santayana
George Santayana wrote this in his work *The Life of Reason*. It has become a cautionary reminder about historical awareness.
Who advised, "If you are going through hell, keep going"?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Abraham Lincoln
Theodore Roosevelt
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill offered this encouragement during World War II. It conveys perseverance through hardship.
Who wrote, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced"?
Sojourner Truth
Maya Angelou
Martin Luther King Jr.
James Baldwin
James Baldwin wrote this in his essays on civil rights. It underscores the necessity of confronting issues before solving them.
Who popularized the phrase, "Stay hungry, stay foolish"?
Steve Wozniak
Steve Jobs
Bill Gates
Mark Zuckerberg
Steve Jobs used this phrase in his 2005 Stanford commencement address. It encourages continual curiosity and risk-taking.
Who said, "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how"?
Søren Kierkegaard
Jean-Paul Sartre
Arthur Schopenhauer
Friedrich Nietzsche
Nietzsche wrote this in his work *Twilight of the Idols*. It emphasizes the motivational power of purpose.
Who originally penned, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"?
Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Voltaire
Mary Wollstonecraft
John Stuart Mill
Evelyn Beatrice Hall wrote this as a paraphrase to illustrate Voltaire's beliefs in her 1906 biography. It is often misattributed directly to Voltaire.
Who quipped, "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject"?
Winston Churchill
Harold Macmillan
David Lloyd George
Neville Chamberlain
This wry observation is from Winston Churchill and reflects his sharp wit about inflexibility. It has become a popular quotation on extremism.
Who is credited with, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics"?
Winston Churchill
H. L. Mencken
Benjamin Disraeli
Mark Twain
The maxim is usually attributed to Disraeli, though popularized by Mark Twain's writings. It criticizes the persuasive power of statistical data.
Who wrote, "If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear"?
Aldous Huxley
George Orwell
John Stuart Mill
Ray Bradbury
George Orwell wrote this in his essay what defines freedom of speech. It affirms that true liberty includes unpopular opinions.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify the correct author of famous quotes across various fields.
  2. Analyse contextual clues to attribute quotations accurately.
  3. Evaluate linguistic style to distinguish between similar sayings.
  4. Demonstrate mastery in matching historic lines with their sources.
  5. Apply critical thinking to recognize less-known attributions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Consult famous quotation books - Books like Bartlett's Familiar Quotations and The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations are your trusty sidekicks in the quest for accuracy. They serve up context, authorship details, and historical notes to help you pin down who really said what. Crack open their pages and let the adventures in attribution begin!
  2. Tap into online quotation databases - Digital platforms like Oxford Reference Online and Credo Reference are packed with searchable collections spanning genres and eras. With just a few clicks, you can verify the source of any quote and explore variations that might exist. It's like having a high-speed research lab at your fingertips!
  3. Explore Wikiquote - This free, crowd-sourced compendium offers sourced quotes from famous people, books, movies, and more. Each entry often links back to original works, giving you the nitty-gritty details you need for accurate attribution. Dive into the wiki world and watch your knowledge grow!
  4. Beware misattributions - Over time, quotes can morph into legends, drifting away from their original form or speaker. Cross-reference at least two reputable sources before trusting that dazzling line. Think of yourself as a quote mythbuster hunting down the real deal!
  5. Study authors' unique styles - Every writer and speaker has a signature voice, from their favorite phrases to thematic quirks. Learning to spot these patterns makes it easier to tell if a quote truly matches its alleged author. It's like learning the secret code of your favorite wordsmiths!
  6. Search smart with quotation marks - Typing a quote in quotes on search engines forces exact-match results, cutting through the noise and leading you to the source. This simple trick can save hours of detective work and quickly pinpoint origin pages or transcripts. Give your inner sleuth the tools it needs!
  7. Dig into common misquotes - Some sayings spread faster as mistakes than their originals ever did. Use references like The Yale Book of Quotations to learn which lines went off the rails and how to correct them. Spotting these blunders will sharpen your quote-spotting skills!
  8. Visit Quote Investigator - This site is a goldmine for anyone tracing the roots of popular quotes and debunking false attributions. It dives into historical documents, newspaper archives, and more to uncover the truth. Bookmark it and let the quote forensics begin!
  9. Think critically and question everything - Especially in the social media age, quotes float around without any proof. Always play the skeptic, double-check sources, and never trust a statement without solid evidence. Your brain is your best defense against the fake quote uprising!
  10. Practice makes perfect - Reinforce your skills by routinely attributing quotes to their rightful authors or texts. Turn it into a fun game: challenge friends or use flashcards to match quotes with names. Soon you'll be the reigning quiz champion of accurate attributions!
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