Fake Quote
A quote deliberately invented and attributed to someone for credibility, humour, or harm.
A fake quote is fabricated text presented as the words of a real person. Unlike a misquotation, which begins as an honest recollection, a fake quote is invented from scratch — often to lend authority to a position, sell a product, or smear a public figure.
Fake quotes have become a major feature of social media. Quote-graphic templates make fabrication almost effortless, and the visual format — face, name, sentence — signals authenticity to casual scrollers.
The standard defence is the primary source. If the quote does not appear in the person's books, articles, interviews, or recorded speeches, it should be treated as fake until proven otherwise. Our Real Quote or Fake game is built around teaching this reflex.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Keep reading the glossary
A quote attributed to a famous person that they almost certainly never said.
Reproducing a quote with the wording changed — even if the source is correct.
Assigning a quote to the wrong person — the most common error in quotation.
The act of naming the original speaker or writer of a quote.