Logo - Feel The Words

Phrase Quotes

On the small lines that end up quoted for years.

A single phrase can outlive the person who first said it, and these quotes reflect on that process from the inside, including a line credited to Steve Easterbrook.

I think I invented the phrase 'Don't overdo it.'

Quotes by Kevin James

He can thread a needle with a well-turned phrase.

Quotes by Don Hewitt

'It can't be done' is not a phrase I recognize.

Quotes by Anouska Hempel

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of phrases are discussed in this collection?
Short, memorable lines that speakers claim credit for coining, or occasionally reject as inaccurate descriptions of themselves.
Does anyone claim to have invented a well-known saying?
Yes, one speaker credits themselves with originating a common piece of advice about not overdoing things.
Are all the quotes here approving of certain phrases?
No, one specifically pushes back against a phrase, refusing to accept it as something they would ever say.
Is skillful wording treated as a talent in these quotes?
Yes, one compares a well-turned phrase to something as precise as threading a needle. See also Fionn Whitehead.
Do these quotes come from writers specifically?
They come from a mix of public figures, not exclusively writers, though wordplay and precise language are common threads.

Not every phrase is welcomed; one quote here rejects a common saying outright rather than repeating it. Related pages: Fionn Whitehead and Carel Struycken.