Quote Check
Many "founder quotes" that circulate online were never said or written by the person they're credited to. Before we use a quote, we find it in a primary source such as Founders Online, the National Archives, or the Avalon Project. If we can't find it there, we don't use it.
Where to check a quote
- Washington: Mount Vernon keeps a list of spurious Washington quotations: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/spurious-quotations
- Jefferson: Monticello keeps a list of spurious Jefferson quotations: https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/spurious-quotations/
- Any founder: Search Founders Online: https://founders.archives.gov/
Simple rules for everyone
- If a quote has no source, treat it as unverified.
- Look for the original letter, speech or document, not a meme or a quote website.
- Be extra careful with quotes that sound modern or match today's political debates perfectly.
Found a quote on our site that you think is wrong? Please tell us.