Where do famous people's quotes come from?

Question

Do they have personal secretaries following them with pen and paper jotting down anything witty they might say? Or do they write their quips down themselves later at home? How is the authenticity of a quote made? I met a famous person once. Can I now "quote" him by writing whatever I want and attributing it to him?

Answer 1

Famous quotes are usually something said by famous people at public appearances or press conferences. then quoted by the press or become the 'IN' thing to say.

Some times famous quotes are mis-quoted, but are still bantered around...such as "Play it again Sam!".. that was never said in the movie Casablanca, something similar but not in those words.

Answer 2

Let's start off by denying that you can do any such thing as your last sentence.

Usually, the quote is attributable to someone because it has appeared in a speech, in a publication or written in a letter to someone who preserved it. Thus authenticity of both the quotation and the author are usually preserved. Often the quotation is garbled more or less but the author of the first known statement of it is more certain.  Sometimes someone may say something and others may like the quote and think the "style" is that of someone other than the author.

For example, one of the funniest people on the planet is the stand-up comic Steven Wright. His style is so unique that, as he relates, other sayings that appear to be in the same style are attributed to him.

Answer 3

that's the mystery, maybe they are quoting from books they read, that not many others have read, or from what other famous people said in private......