About Us

We want to know exactly who said what and when, and probably so do you. Finding a quotation online is easy. Finding where it actually came from can be much harder.

Lib Quotes is more than a searchable database of sourced quotations. Our mission is to educate and inform, and along the way spread the importance of quoting with proper attribution. A reliable and accurate resource for quotes is what we strive to provide to readers worldwide.

Many of our verified quotations include informative footnotes and possible variant translations. You can also find plenty of useful information about authors, such as biography, links to their works in the public domain, and which other authors they are related to.

Who we are

Lib Quotes was created in 2017 and is maintained by a small, independent group of editors who care about getting quotations right. We prefer to keep our personal names private, but we are open about how we research and verify the material published on the site.

How we verify quotations

Our first priority is always to find a primary source. This might be a book, essay, letter, speech, interview, official transcript, or another record containing the person's own words.
When a primary source is unavailable, we may use a reliable secondary source that documents the quotation. In those cases, we identify it clearly with wording such as "quoted in," "reported in," or "as cited in." We do not treat a secondary reference as though it were the original source.
Where relevant, we also include edition details, page numbers, original-language versions, alternative translations, and notes about variations in wording.

Reporting and correcting mistakes

Quotation research is not always straightforward. Different editions may use different wording and translations can vary. Even with careful research, mistakes can happen.
That is why every quotation includes a Report option. If you believe that a source, author, or quotation is incorrect, you can send us the details directly from the page.
We review every report and check the available evidence again. When a correction is needed, we update the record so that future readers receive more reliable information.

Our purpose

We want Lib Quotes to be a dependable reference for readers, writers, students, teachers, and anyone who wants to quote someone accurately.
Our motto remains simple: Don't quote it if you can't source it.

PS: The Lib in our name stands for Library.