5 Famous Misquotes
Quotes have a funny way of taking on a life of their own. Sometimes, what people think was said becomes more famous than what was actually said. Over time, these lines seep into pop culture—repeated in movies, memes, speeches, and on T-shirts—even if they’re not entirely accurate.
Here are five of the most popular misquotes of all time... and the surprising truth behind them.
1. “Luke, I am your father.”
What people think he said: "Luke, I am your father."
What he actually said: “No, I am your father.”
This might be the most famous movie misquote of all time. In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Darth Vader drops one of the biggest bombshells in cinematic history—but he never says “Luke.” He simply replies to Luke Skywalker’s accusation that he betrayed and murdered Luke’s father with: “No, I am your father.”
So, where did the misquote come from? Probably from people quoting the phrase out of context. Adding “Luke” makes the line instantly recognizable—and easier to use in jokes, impressions, and parodies. It’s been repeated in commercials, cartoons, and even on coffee mugs... just not in the actual film.
2. “Let them eat cake.”
What people think she said: "Let them eat cake."
What she probably said: Nothing of the sort.
Marie Antoinette may be forever linked to this line, but historians say she likely never said it. The phrase first appeared in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions, written around 1765—when Marie Antoinette was just a child and not yet Queen of France.
Rousseau attributed the quote to an unnamed "great princess." Later generations, eager to paint Marie as out of touch with the starving French poor, pinned the line on her. It became a powerful symbol of royal arrogance—even if it was entirely fictional.
3. “Elementary, my dear Watson.”
What people think Sherlock Holmes said: "Elementary, my dear Watson."
What he actually said: Never that exact phrase.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective did use the word “elementary” and frequently addressed his companion as “my dear Watson”—but never in the same sentence. The famous line doesn’t appear in any original Sherlock Holmes stories.
It actually originated in the 1929 film The Return of Sherlock Holmes and stuck ever since. It’s a great example of how film adaptations can invent lines that become more famous than the source material.
4. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
What people think Gandhi said: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
What he actually said: Something a bit more complex.
This quote feels like something Gandhi would say—peaceful, proactive, and empowering. But the exact wording doesn’t appear in any of his verified speeches or writings. The closest version comes from a 1913 article where he wrote:
“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.”
Still profound, but less concise. The paraphrased version we know today likely emerged as a simplified summary of his teachings—ideal for social media and bumper stickers, even if it's not a direct quote.
5. “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Who people credit it to: Voltaire
Who actually said it: Evelyn Beatrice Hall (a writer summarizing Voltaire’s views)
This powerful defense of free speech is often attributed to the French Enlightenment thinker Voltaire. But the quote actually comes from a 1906 book by English writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall, who wrote it about Voltaire—not in his words.
Hall penned the line in her biography The Friends of Voltaire to illustrate his beliefs, not to directly quote him. Still, the quote was so striking that it quickly became inseparable from Voltaire’s image.
Final Thought: Misquotes Are Like Folklore
Misquotes are part of how language and culture evolve. They reveal what people want to remember—or what sounds better, sharper, or more profound. Even when they’re wrong, they stick around.