Quotations Guide
Overview
The following reference books and Web sites are among the most frequently consulted for identifying quotations. If you are using one of the quotation books, check the indexes first under key words in the quotation. For example, in the quotation, "Give me liberty or give me death," liberty and death are the key words.
Some quotation books are organized by author, who, if known, may facilitate in the identification of the full reference. Also, well-known authors, e.g., Charles Dickens, have keyword books, called concordances, to their works.
And, of course, entering a phrase into a Google search may also pull up the information, e.g., "give me liberty" pulls up the text of Patrick Henry's speech in a second!
If you don't find your quotation in the sources listed below, browse other quotation books with similar call numbers (e.g., PN 6080, PN 6081, and PN 6405) that are found in the Central Reference stacks. N.B.
Indexes (paper)
Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry in Anthologies
PN 1022 .H39 2007 (Latest ed. in Ref. Desk Collection)
This well-known and comprehensive poetry index (known until 1990 as Granger's Index to Poetry, which indexed notable first lines) dates back to 1940 with earlier editions found in the Reference Stacks. Recent volumes are organized by title, first line and last lines of poems with author and subject indexes.
Details
Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry in Collected and Selected Works PN1022 .C63 2004 (Ref Desk)
The 2nd edition of a companion set to the title above is organized by title and first line with author and subject indexes.
Last Lines: An Index to the Last Lines of Poetry
PN1022 .K5 1991
A 2 volume set with the first volume arranged alphabetically by the last line of a poem. The second volume is a keyword index to those last lines.
Quotations
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations This online quotation index uses the 10th ed. (1919) of John Bartlett's famous work but includes over 11,000 quotations so it is of great historical value. This is one of several titles found in the Bartleby.com collection.
The print edition of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations is possibly the best known general collection of quotations. The book is arranged chronologically, with separate author and key word indexes.
The 17th print edition, published in 2002, is found in the Central Reference Desk Collection: PN 6081 .B27 2002. Earlier editions, in the reference stacks, contain some quotations not included in later editions.
Columbia World of Quotations The 65,000 quotations by 5,000 authors divided into 6,500 subjects was published in 1996. From the Bartleby.com collection.
Home Book of Quotations
PN 6081 .S73 1967 (Ref. Desk)
An extensive collection of quotations, arranged by subject, with separate key word and author indexes. Some overlap with Bartlett's, but each book contains quotations not found in the other. Note, however, that this source is 40 years out of date, and we have many, more contemporary collections.
International Thesaurus of Quotations PN 6081 .T77 (Ref)
Unlike other quotation books, this one has an extensive index of synonyms to help you find quotations under a number of related words.
Macmillan Book of Proverbs, Maxims, and Famous Phrases
PN 6405 >S8 1965 (Ref. Desk)
A massive (2957 pages) book, arranged by broad topics, of the sources and variations of English and American proverbs, maxims, and familiar phrases. A detailed keyword index offers easy accessibility.
Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations
PN 6084 .H8 O94 2005 (Ref)
A "hilarious collection ... full of wisecracks and wit ..." arranged by subject. Contemporary and illustrative of 20th century humor.
Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
PN 6080 .O95 2004 (Ref)
This collection, now in the 6th edition, has the scholarly authority of the Oxford University Press to recommend it.
Oxford English Dictionary PE 1625 .O86 (Ref)
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is an historical dictionary of English, covering the language from the earliest times to the present day. It provides not only the current meanings of words, but also traces their development through time. Entries contain detailed etymological analysis, and are illustrated by quotations from a wide range of English language sources from around the world, making the OED a unique historical record. Click "Enter OED Online" and start searching.
Quotations Archive A searchable database of general purpose quotations. You can browse by subject and author.
Quotations Home Page "The collections presented here contain thousands of quotations, old and new, familiar and obscure, humorous and pompous, ironic and maybe even a little profound."
Quotations Page Large quotation site with links to additional online quotation sites as well as many original resources.
Quote Sleuth PN 6081 .S44 1990 (Ref)
Written by Anthony W. Shipps, this is a thorough guide to anyone wanting to learn sources and techniques for identifying hard to find quotations.
Quoteland Searchable quotations by topic and author, including instructions on how to find a quote and links to other sites.
Respectfully Quoted PN 6081 .R435 1989 (Ref)
An especially valuable quotation book containing quotations frequently requested by the Reference staff at the Library of Congress.
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations The subtitle, The Most Notable Quotations: 1950-1988, explains the 10,000 quotations from 4,000 sources which are organized into 25 categories and 60 sections. From the Bartleby.com collection.
Yahoo! Reference: Quotations Yahoo's searchable subject guide to quotations also has many links to other quotation resources. This, as are other Web search engines, will be especially useful for quotations from news sources by contemporary figures.
Ask A Librarian
Laurel A. Grotzinger
laurel.grotzinger@wmich.edu
269-387-5418
Last updated: August 2007