Why would you quote others that don’t even know you? Are you sure they said that? When did they in fact say that and have they changed their minds since then?

These were questions I asked myself after quoting someone else… as I later questioned the reliability of the source.

I then thought to myself, if I want to make a statement with absolute certainty of the source, I should be quoting myself, not someone else.

“The quote yourself initiative is just that, quote yourself. You yourself take ownership of what you say. You can later change your mind too, for that you yourself can justify and explain your reasons for doing so.”

JCA

If you do quote someone else, historical people (as a whole) are more reliable to quote than living people. Let me elaborate…

Preferred, Quoting Historical Figures: Whether by a few years or centuries, those that have been extensively researched and documented by historians, are perhaps more reliable to quote. If there are open issues about the nature of specific quotes, they are openly question and debated by the research community, if indeed a certain person did say what is claimed and in what context.

Not Preferred, Quoting Currently Living People: We have all seen it, someone famous says something and later they contradict themselves. This is particular of those that enjoy the spotlight, especially professional athletes, actors, artists, musicians, and politicians. It is best not to quote these people at all due to their volatility, unless you want to tarnish your own credibility when that person changes their mind.

  • 3rd Revision (minor): November 14, 2022
  • 2nd Revision: December 14th, 2020
  • 1st Published, September 9th, 2020