#''When people misattribute quotes to famous writers-

[greenycrimson]

Kill the classist in your head

Mark Twain, probably

[guynewyork]

I often see the same quotes from certain people come up on my dash, and on the web in general. The same Kurt Vonnegut quote, the same Hemmingway quote, the same Audry Lorde quote, it doesn’t really matter who it is. There are sometimes three or even six quotes that circulate, but it’s rare to see a new one appear.

And I wonder if there is a name for this and if it’s a trend that’s going to continue until most famous people are remembered for one line. How many lines did Gandhi write or speak, and yet without effort you’ll mostly likely just read one: You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

I know for me it’s easier to google the writer I’m looking to quote and reuse something someone has already pulled out rather than pull a book off my shelf and type in new words. It’s lazy on my part, but sometimes I think lazy has shaped the internet. Most things are basically good enough. 

But I’m curious if there is a narrowing of thought in all of this that is continuing down a worrisome path. And don’t even get me started when the quote is wrong or misattributed. 

I don’t know where I’m going with this other than putting it out there. I’m sure others have wiser thoughts on this, so feel free to share.