Quote plagiarism

[kuatolives]

I felt inherently dirty writing something today so I figured I'd gather opinion.

We've all heard famous quotes before; love is this, death is that, etc.
Often in daily life use these quotes without having any idea of where they came from and often misquote them altogether, just getting across the 'gist' of it.

Example (I just plucked this one off the internet)

"The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels."
-Hazrat Inayat Khan


Now anyone who reads this post might have that quote stick in their heads for a while and might, in casual conversation, if the opportunity arose, regurgitate it back to someone. But they probably aren't going to remember Hazrat Inayat Khan as the original voice, nor are they probably even going to get the quote right, probably bastardizing it like ... "Words that make us happy are more precious than jewels."

And unless I'm mistaken, people don't go around quoting people exactly, nor saying exactly who they are quoting, most having no idea where the saying originated.

So, to get to the point, I'm writing dialogue and I want to throw in one of these half-assed regurgitated quotes but I feel like a plagiarist. But I'm sure as shit not going to have the character say, "Hazrat Inayat Khan once said, blah blah blah." People don't talk like that, or at least my character doesn't.

What's your view on a character plagiarizing someone's words (which sounds more natural) vs the character sounding off like a fuckin intellectual property lawyer? People plagiarize, I just don't want to be given shit for making my characters feel natural.

[James D. Macdonald]

People quote stuff all the time. They don't footnote it.

Dialog is privileged. That means you can say anything in it. Even misquoting things (if it reveals character, advances the plot, supports theme ... you know).

No one is going to think that you were attempting to plagiarize something that's in Bartlett's Famous Quotes. Particularly if it's in dialog. (If, however, it's in narration (outside of first-person) we might think you had an unhappy relationship with cliche, but that's something else.)

[BigWords]

Analecta (http://bigwords88.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/nanowrimo-analecta/) pages may be frowned upon by some, but they have a long tradition. Using quotations to highlight what matters in a story is a simple way of pointing readers to what they should take from the story. It's not for everyone, but I like having the opportunity to throw some strange bits and pieces I like out there.

[Me&BacchusGoIntoABar]

If I recognized the quote, I would think it was akin to plagiarism and a lack of creativity on the writer's part unless the character admitted that he was quoting someone famous, or unless it was in keeping with the character to pass off other's words as his own thoughts. I'm not saying that's right, but speaking as an ignorant Joe Schmo, that would be my reaction to it.

[AlishaS]

hmm, I would say it is ok, cause as you exsplained it happens in day to day life all the time.. and agree that if it's dialoug of course you want it to sound natural and people really talk like that.. I wouldnt worry about people mistaking it as lack of creativity..

[bonitakale]

I tend to think that people using a quote like that will "footnote" it by their tone of voice. In dialogue, it depends.

"Ah, m'boy, the words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels." (No mention of source, but the speaker is so bombastic that the reader will assume it's a quote.)

or

"Well, you know, glory and loveliness have passed away and all."
"Who said that?"
"I dunno; I guess I read it somewhere."

or

"Alas poor Yorick! I knew him well."
"Horatio."
"What?"
"I knew him Horatio, not I knew him well."
"Geeze! Get out much?"

On the whole, I think it's easier to use a well-known quote, if you're going to misquote. If it's an unfamiliar one, you might as well get it right. Getting it wrong will seem realistic only to those who already know it, so they can tell it's wrong.

[scarletpeaches]

Reminds me of a conversation I once had. (I'm the replier).

"Money is the root of all evil, after all."
"No it isn't."
"Yes it is. The Bible says so."
"No, it says the love of money is the root of all evil."
"Whatever. I still say money is."
"So let me get this straight...you misquote a book you don't believe in, written by a God you say doesn't exist, and then insist your way of phrasing things is better?"

[Jamesaritchie]

I think quotations fall into common use, just as everything else does. Some simply become generic.

But I do think it's a good idea to let the read know who you're quoting. Criminal Minds handles this exceedingly well in dialogue.

I know if I recognized something written in a novel as something Hemingway or Shakespeare or whoever said, I'd either expect it to be accredited to the right person, or I'd think the writer was pulling a fast one.

[IceCreamEmpress]

"As the saying goes, '{the saying, and how it goes}'."

"A wise person once said, '{what the wise person said}'."

"{Wise proverb}," said Jack.
"Is that original?" Susan asked.
"Oh, heavens, no."

[job]

Go ahead and quote, making the assumption the reader will either recognize it or look it up if she's interested.

Or paraphrase.

[IceCreamEmpress]

Please, if your book is historical fiction, make sure that you're not having your characters quoting things that weren't written yet. I am still all mentally bruised by characters in a Very Highly Regarded Novel About the 12th Century quoting Shakespeare.