Subject Guide » English Language and Literature
Quotation Sources
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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. If you don't find your quotation in the sources listed here, browse other quotation books in the Reference Stacks with similar call numbers or ask for assistance at the Reference desk.There is no science to locating quotations. Sometimes it takes a lot of patience to find what you are looking for. Sometimes the quotation isn't listed anywhere or you can't find it because you have not remembered the right words and/or the author's name. If you want personal assistance locating quotations please contact the Humanities Librarian, David Isaacson, david.isaacson@wmich.edu, 269-387-5182, or, if he's not available, another member of the Central Referernce staff.
Bartlett's Familiar QuotationsThis 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 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 Granger's Dictionary of Poetry Quotations
PN 6082 .C57 1992 (Ref - Desk Coll.)
Use the keyword index if you are trying to identify a specific poem, or the subject index if you're looking for a poem on a subject. The body of this book contains the most frequently quoted selections from famous poems. You will need to use a source like Poem Finder (Lit Finder) or the Electronic Poetry Center if you want to get a copy of the whole poem.
Dictionary of Quotations
PN 6081 .E9 (Ref)
One of a number of useful general indexes to quotations located in the stacks of Central Reference, lst floor of Waldo.
Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations
PN 6084 .R3 M4 (Ref)
Although religious quotations can be found in general quotation collections, this book focuses on them alone.
Great Thoughts
PN 6081 .G636 1985 (Ref)
It's not that the other quotation books do not contain "great thoughts" but this one, despite its overweening ambition, does contain many choice philosophically interesting quotations.
Home Book of American Quotations
PN 6081 .B62 (Ref)
A selection of quotations by writers from the United States.
Oxford Book 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.
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.
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 ArchiveA 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 PageLarge 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.
A Short Dictionary of Scientific QuotationsMemorable quotes from the scientific community listed by author.
QuotelandSearchable 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 QuotationsThe 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.
Credo Reference (Formerly Xreferplus) Full text online from about 240 encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference books all cross-referenced. Search a topic, build a concept map or browse information sources organized by subject. Find text, images, sound files, sortable data tables and more.
Yahoo! Reference: QuotationsYahoo'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.
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Last updated: March 2008
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Bloomsbury Biographical Dictionary of Quotations
Bloomsbury Thematic Dictionary of Quotations
Collins Concise Dictionary of Quotations
Rawson's Dictionary of American Quotations
Respectfully Quoted
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations