Is This Famous Quote From a Real Person or Fictional Character?

Olivia Cantor

Image: wynnter/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

In the age of social media communication, one kind of meme remains very popular since we all learned how to connect socially via online means: the quotes.

Let's face it, we all like those quotes, right? Who doesn't? There are many kinds of memes that feature different types of quotes. The most popular quotes seem to be those about love, happiness and success. What kind of quote do you appreciate?

Whether we admit it or not, it's always nice to see famous quotes about love, ones that resonate with our current life situations. If we don't focus much on that department, then the quotes about perseverance, success and overcoming failures might resonate with us more, depending on the work situation we have at hand.

It doesn't hurt, too, if these quotes that we appreciate come from people who were themselves successful in their lives, who achieved greatness for persevering and who reached their goals as they hurdled obstacles. And sometimes, some of these quotes are also uttered by fictional people we see on the silver screen, the small screen or the literary pages of classics.

If given a chance, will you be able to determine if a particular quote was said or written by a real person or a fictional person? We'll give you clues if you give it a chance! Life is short; carpe diem, take the quiz!



A real U.S. president definitely uttered, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." But which one?

This famous John F. Kennedy quote was part of his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, when he took his oath of office to be the 35th U.S. president. As he recited this famous quote, it was widely covered on television, the very first U.S. Presidential Inaugural to be broadcast in living color.

Which reel or real person said "Go ahead, make my day?"

One of the most memorable tough guy characters of Hollywood is Harry Callahan, also known as Dirty Harry, a role that Clint Eastwood made famous in films like "Dirty Harry," "Magnum Force" and "Sudden Impact," where he uttered this famous line. It's one of the most famous movie quotes of all time.

An important inventor said, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." Can you guess who?

Inventor Thomas Alva Edison is credited with this genius quote, as it was traced to a Harper's Monthly Magazine feature of him back in the 1930s. With many patents and inventions to his name, he proved this quote right in saying that hard work needs to accompany genius and talent.

Was it astronaut Jim Lovell or actor Tom Hanks who said "Houston, we have a problem?"

This is indeed a tricky quote because it's a really popular misquote! The film "Apollo 13"starred Tom Hanks portraying the role of real-life astronaut Jim Lovell where he uttered this famous quote. However, NASA transcripts show that the more accurate quote was "Houston, we've had a problem."

Who said "I love the smell of napalm in the morning?"

The American Film Institute ranks this wartime quote in number 12 of their 100 Movie Quotes list, tallying the most famous movie lines to come out in 100 years. It was uttered by Lt. Bill Kilgore, played by Robert Duvall.

Which politician said "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat?"

A more popular and modern phrasing often related to this quote is "blood, sweat, and tears," but they're not exactly of the same origin. This longer quote came from Winston Churchill, part of a speech he delivered when he became the U.K. Prime Minister during World War II.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" sounds like a lovely Valentine line. Who said it?

Juliet Capulet, a character featured in William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," is the one credited for this line. However, it's actually incomplete, since the whole line reads as "That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet." It is preceded by the line "What's in a name?"

A real American said, "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen." Guess who!

U.S. President Harry S. Truman is the one credited for uttering this famous quote. It suggests that if someone can't get along with the fast pacing of life or work, then they better leave and go somewhere else. It was like Truman's "call to arms" of serving under pressure, together with his staff.

In what kind of medium can you find the quote "Love means never having to say you're sorry?"

This poignant quote about love initially came from a novel entitled "Love Story" penned by author Erich Segal, and it was a best-seller when it came out in 1970 during Valentine's Day. The quote got filmic when the novel was adapted into a film that same year and the author wrote the script, too.

Which callous-sounding man said, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn?"

Debonaire actor Clark Gable made this quote famous when he uttered it in a pivotal scene in the movie "Gone with the Wind." As Rhett Butler, he was delivering the line to Scarlett O'Hara, played by Vivien Leigh, when he finally decided to give up on their very chaotic relationship.

Which phenomenal woman is attributed with the quote "Life was meant to be lived. One must never turn his back on life?"

Many quotes are attributed to the former First Lady of the U.S. Eleanor Roosevelt, but this one appears in her autobiography. However, the more complete quote is "Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life."

Which filmic debonaire said "Here's looking at you, kid?"

It's actually entertaining to note that Humphrey Bogart, playing the role of Rick Blaine in the black and white classic film "Casablanca," actually utters this line more than once that it sometimes loses its impact. Nonetheless, it's the 5th most famous quote in AFI's 100 Movie Quotes list.

The theatrical quote "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women are merely players" is attributed to which playwright?

This famous quote about theater as an analogy of life is attributed to playwright William Shakespeare, who included it in his play called "As You Like It." It's the beginning of a monologue recited by Jaques, wherein he mentions that men "portray" seven roles or seven stages in his lifetime.

"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse" is definitely a filmic quote, but from which film?

Mario Puzo's "The Godfather" novel was adapted into a film in the '70s, and it spawned many classic lines that we continue quoting up to now. This is perhaps one of the most famous of them all, uttered by no less than the Godfather character played by an older Marlon Brando.

This steadfast woman said, "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." Who is she?

The very complex character of Blanche DuBois uttered this famous line, as it was written for her by playwright Tennessee Williams. This character and her famous line came out of the playwright's Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play called "A Streetcar Named Desire," which also became a film later on.

A young girl is quoted as saying "There's no place like home," but which teen?

"The Wizard of Oz" is one of the most beloved films of all time, and it also produced so many classic lines we still quote today. Perhaps one of the most poignant of them all, as well as the simplest in thought, is this line uttered by Dorothy Gale, played by Judy Garland.

Which historical person uttered the line "Give me liberty or give me death?"

This famous quote was part of the speech uttered by lawyer, orator and U.S. Founding Father Patrick Henry who addressed this to the Second Virginia Convention of 1775. He was making a plea to have troops sent to the American Revolutionary War.

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" was a legendary quote. But who said it?

If you're the first human ever to set foot on the moon, then you should definitely have a ready line worth quoting. This was it, as delivered by Neil Armstrong, who took the very first steps on the moon, and his iconic line was heard by people on earth.

From which fictional universe did the line "May the force be with you" come from?

In the whole "Star Wars" space saga, many characters uttered this line, perhaps making it the franchise's most famous quote. Obi-Wan Kenobi always says it to a young Luke, and earlier to a young Anakin. Han Solo also says it to Luke, and later General Leia says it to Rey as well.

Which famous poet wrote the line "A thing of beauty is a joy forever?"

One of the Romantic poets, John Keats, wrote this line as part of his piece entitled "Endymion." It's the very first line of the poem, which is followed by "Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness."

Which assassinated person said, "A government of the people, by the people, for the people?"

Though there have been others confirmed to have said a different version of this quote, this precise wording was what stuck with people as Honest Abe used it in the Gettysburg Address. Yes, that's the most famous speech that starts with "Four score and seven years ago."

Which achiever inspired us with the quote "Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value?"

Albert Einstein is credited with this quote, as it was included in a feature article about him, published in LIFE Magazine back in 1955. It was a result of a conversation between LIFE editor William Miller's son and Einstein, which got included in the article entitled "Death of A Genius."

He defined courage as "grace under pressure." Which larger than life novelist wrote this?

Ernest Hemingway was verified to have originated this line by no less than U.S. President John F. Kennedy himself who wanted to quote it. When he was still a senator, JFK wrote Hemingway's publishers to investigate, and it was verified that Hemingway used it in a previous New Yorker piece he wrote.

His signature line is "To infinity and beyond!" Which animated character uttered this?

Buzz Lightyear is that lovable spaceman toy found in the "Toy Story" movies, who was sold with the catchphrase "To infinity and beyond!" for marketing and merchandising purposes. It's funny to see, though, how the toy character believed at first that the line is really his, not a mere selling tool.

The hopeful quote that starts with "I have a dream" was uttered by which real-life freedom fighter?

Martin Luther King Jr. uttered this famous line as part of his August 1963 March on Washington speech. The often cited quote is "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

A simple man once said "Stupid is as stupid does." Which man was this?

The 1994 film "Forrest Gump" had a simple story about a simple man who achieved great things in life. This quote was one of the most famous quotes to come out of that film. Another one is "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get."

One promised "I shall return" while the other said "I'll be back." Which quote was uttered by the real person?

"I shall return" was the famous World War II quote uttered by real-life fighter General Douglas MacArthur as a promise to the American and local troops he left behind in the Philippines. "I'll be back" is the reel-life line uttered by the Terminator in the second movie of that sci-fi franchise.

He shouted "Show me the money!" Who said this?

The 1996 film "Jerry Maguire" surprisingly produced many popular quotes that seeped into daily life outside of the movies. Titular character Jerry Maguire, a sports agent, said this line after being forced to do so by his superstar athlete client Rod Tidwell, played by Cuba Gooding Jr.

He wasn't a man of the cloth, but he said, "To err is human; to forgive, divine." Who said this?

The English poet Alexander Pope originated this famous quote as found in one of his poems called "An Essay on Criticism" which he wrote in the early 1700s. He was just 23 when he wrote this very lengthy and philosophical work.

He said, "Nothing is certain except for death and taxes." Who uttered this line with finality?

This famous quote was written by Benjamin Franklin in a letter to his French scientist friend Jean-Baptiste Le Roy in 1789. The whole quote is "Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes."

She desperately said, "I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." Who's this pleading woman?

One of the most often quoted Julia Roberts line is the one she delivered in the 1999 rom-com "Notting Hill," where she played Hollywood actress Anna Scott. She was saying this to Will Thacker, a British bookstore owner she met while filming in the U.K., played by Hugh Grant.

This frustrated quote "What we've got here is a failure to communicate" came from which film?

The 1967 film "Cool Hand Luke" was the prison-themed drama movie where this famous quote came from. It was the prison warden, played by Strother Martin, who uttered this line. The line is number 11 on the American Film Institute's 100 Movie Quotes tally.

In which comic book superhero film did the line "Why so serious" come from?

"The Dark Knight" is the second film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy featuring Christian Bale in the titular role. This famous line, though, was uttered by Batman's nemesis in this 2008 film, "Joker," played by the late Heath Ledger.

Which writer wrote, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?"

Another English playwright-poet is the source of this quote often attributed to Shakespeare. It was penned by William Congreve in his 1697 play called "The Mourning Bride" where the original line goes "Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, Nor hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd."

It's practical and fun, but also deep. Who said "Just keep swimming!"

Dory is the blue tang fish voiced by host-comedian Ellen DeGeneres in the film "Finding Nemo." She's responsible for this very literal but also very encouraging line, saying "When life gets you down, you know what you've gotta do? Just keep swimming."

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Explore More Quizzes