how to quote/cite a famous quote?

Joined Jan 2011
139 Posts | 0+
When writing an essay/paper that is apa style is it sufficient to quote a famous quote like this: In the words of Benjamin Franklin "Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither."

Normally a quote from like an article would need to be like this:

In an article by Brian Duignan, Duignan lists a few of the criticisms many have had about the Patriot act, such as this statement by Duignan, “Section 215, allegedly violated the privacy protections of the Fourth Amendment because it permitted warrantless searches and did not require notification of the target, even after the search had taken place.” (Brian Duignan, 2012)

So for a quote like the ben franklin one would I need to put something at the end of it like (Benjamin Franklin, 1776) or not?
 
Joined Aug 2010
10,440 Posts | 17+
Wales
Probably should, always best to be thorough in these things.

I tend to use MRHA, makes life easier on such things.
 
Joined Mar 2009
25,361 Posts | 13+
Texas
@ Sir Thomas.
Currently I am working on my Masters in US History and I have to write a lot
and write large, detailed papers with quotes. Here is how I have to cite a quote.

ex. He expected that "arrivals from foreign ports will for the coming four weeks average
from one to one-and-a-half million dollars a week." [1]

That Smyth "showed no talent for command and made himself ridiculous on the
Niagara frontier." [2]

[1] George C. Daughan, 1812: The Navy's War (New York: Basic Books, 2011),58.
[2] Ibid., 254.

I am assuming you're using books. Citing the internet is a bit different. Hope this helps somewhat.
 
Joined Jun 2009
29,886 Posts | 49+
land of Califia
If they don't want you to do it in the APA style, which I wouldn't understand why, I think TJ's example is a good way to go. I just used a H.H. Humphrey quote in a paper that I helped write for my wife's friend and as an APA style, I quoted it exactly like your opening sentence.
 
Joined May 2012
51 Posts | 0+
Generally speaking if you can find a citation it is a good idea to use it. For Franklin specifically, most of his famous quotes are from various issues of Poor Richards Almanac. For famous quotes in general like the one you use as an example, that you can not find a citation for you can either use a book of quotations as your source or simply say something like as Albert Einstein said, 'God doesn't play dice with the universe.' Using quotation marks on the specific phrase. This way you are still attributing the remark. Bear in mind that htis only applies to well known and famous quotes.
 
Joined Feb 2011
13,604 Posts | 165+
Perambulating in St James' Park
Depends if you want to use Harvard or Oxford style.

I used to live in Buckinghamshire, a fine county. Unusual flag though with the duck and chains.
 

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