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Fact ChecksMisattributed
Misattributed
Misattributed
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Teacher, Person, Human

Did Einstein Say This About Boats Being Safer at Shore?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Oct 29, 2022 While the shore might be safer, the quote goes on, that's not what ships are built for.
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Did Mariah Carey say she'd like to be skinny like 'starving kids'?

Did Mariah Carey Say She'd 'Love to be Skinny' Like 'Starving Kids'?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Oct 24, 1996 This rumor originated with a satirical (and fictitious) article that published in 1996.
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George Washington’s private life and writings reveal no evidence of anti-Semitism.

No, George Washington Didn't Make This Anti-Semitic Remark

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Oct 16, 2002 Anti-Semitic screeds are nothing new; neither, unfortunately, is the practice of attempting to l ...
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Although Jefferson certainly expressed disdain and mistrust of banking institutions and paper currency on many occasions, this particular quotation bears all the hallmarks of being a retroquote.

Did Thomas Jefferson Say 'Banks and Corporations Will Deprive' People of 'All Property'?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Dec 8, 2008 Given the fear and uncertainty engendered by the economy, it was only a matter of time until som ...
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Dr. Maya Angelou, who passed away in May 2014, became one of those figures (à la Mark Twain or Abraham Lincoln) who ended up with more of other people’s words attributed to her than words of her own.

Did Maya Angelou Write a Poem Titled, 'I Am a Christian'?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Jul 27, 2006 The poem has been anthologized in several books, including "Chicken Soup for the Christian Famil ...
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Audrey Hepburn poses for her publicity photo to promote the film Sabrina.

Did Audrey Hepburn Author These 'Beauty Tips'?

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson David Mikkelson
May 16, 2001 "For attractive lips, speak with words of kindness," the viral quote begins.
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Is This a Real Quote by Nelson Mandela?

Written by:
Nur Ibrahim
Sep 9, 2020 A quote attributed to Mandela, former president of South Africa, said: "Fools divide themselves ...
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Franklin Graham giving a speech

The American Dream Ended Last Night in Ohio?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Apr 2, 2015 A speech by Franklin Graham laments that the American dream ended with the reelection of Barack ...
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Did Baltimore Sun Publish 'The Black Dilemma'?

Written by:
Dan Evon
Jun 10, 2015 The controversial essay has actually been circulating on the internet since at least September 2014.
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Did Bill O'Reilly Write an Essay Calling COVID-19 a Chinese Bioweapon?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Apr 13, 2020 A conspiracy-tinged essay attributed to the former Fox News host went viral on social media.
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Did Johns Hopkins Publish This 'Excellent Summary' of COVID-19 Advice?

Written by:
Dan Evon
Mar 30, 2020 If you're looking for reliable COVID-19 information from Johns Hopkins University, please check ...
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Did George Washington Say This About Citizens' Right to Bear Arms?

Written by:
Dan Evon
Jan 22, 2020 George Washington is in the running for the United States' most misquoted president.
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Person, Human, Fashion

Did Joan Rivers Say Letting People Think You're Mean Is 'One of the Most Rebellious Things a Woman Can Do'?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Oct 27, 2022 She didn't say it, but it's possible she thought it.
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Person, Human, Sitting

No Evidence Freud Made This Snark About the Irish

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Oct 22, 2022 The quote is shared widely.
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Charles Darwin

Did Darwin Say It Is ‘Not the Strongest of Species That Survives’ but the ‘Most Adaptable’?

Written by:
Nur Ibrahim
Oct 12, 2022 The English naturalist has often been the subject of misattributions.
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A fake quote attributed to Lord Macaulay was titled My India in 1835 and mentioned conquering India and the words break the very backbone of this nation.

Is Macaulay Quote About 'Dominating' India with English Culture Real?

Written by:
Jordan Liles
Oct 11, 2022 A reader emailed us and said they spotted the quote meme on WhatsApp.
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Pope Francis

Did Pope Francis Say This About 'Rivers Drinking Their Own Water'?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Sep 23, 2022 The quote has been online longer than Francis has been pope. A version of it even made it into a ...
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Attributed to Marilyn Monroe: "If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”

Did Marilyn Monroe Really Say This?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Sep 20, 2022 "If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best," Monroe ...
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A quote meme claimed that Thomas Paine once wrote or said that the duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its government.

Did Thomas Paine Write, 'The Duty of a True Patriot Is to Protect His Country from Its Government'?

Written by:
Jordan Liles
Sep 14, 2022 We recommend taking a few seconds to search Google for reliable sources before blindly sharing q ...
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Hat, Clothing, Apparel

Did Queen Elizabeth Say This About the Need To 'Kick Some Ass'?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Sep 13, 2022 The Queen could be said to have kicked some proverbial ass during the Second World War, but did ...
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