Well, actually…

12 famous phrases that were never said as we know them

Popular quotes are a good way to condense the ideas of a famous figure or to quickly make a reference to our favorite film or book. But we might not realize that many phrases embedded in society’s collective memory are actually misquotes or wrongly attributed to someone else. These are 12 examples of popular misquotes.

If you were to ask who said this phrase, most people would answer Marie Antoinette. However, that would be incorrect. The original phrase—_"Qu'ils mangent de la brioche,"_ or _"Let them eat brioche"_—was attributed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his Confessions to an unnamed princess. How do we know it wasn’t Marie Antoinette? She was only nine years old at the time and still living in Austria.

Darth Vader’s most quoted line never existed in that form. In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke accuses Darth Vader of murdering his father, based on what Obi-Wan Kenobi told him. Darth Vader’s actual response—_"No, I am your father"_—has since lived on as a misquote in the collective memory.

Historians disagree about the last words spoken by Julius Caesar. Some say he remained silent after an initial cry of surprise, while others report that he spoke in Greek to his friend Brutus, saying Καὶ σύ, τέκνον ("You too, child"). The famous _"Et tu, Brute?"_—which can be translated as "And you?" or "You too, Brutus?"—first appeared in Caesar Interfectus by Richard Edes, but was later popularized by William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

While this phrase is often associated with Niccolò Machiavelli’s ideology, he never actually said it. In his works, Machiavelli argued that rulers might sometimes need to resort to questionable means to ensure the greater good. He emphasized that one can never fully know a person’s intentions, so it is better to judge them by the results of their actions.

According to legend, while on trial for teaching heliocentrism—at the time not scientifically proven and considered contrary to biblical teaching—Galileo Galilei famously declared "E pur si muove!" ("And yet it moves!"), meaning that the universe does not bend to belief. Although the phrase is attributed to Galileo, it was first recorded at least a century after his death, with no evidence of it being veridical.

Casablanca is one of the undisputed classics of cinematic history, and it has frequently been quoted and used as inspiration. However, one of its most famous phrases—"Play it again, Sam"—is actually a misquote. Ingrid Bergman’s character says both "Play it once, Sam, for old times’ sake" and "Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By’" but the misquote became popular after Woody Allen’s play, later adapted into the film Play It Again, Sam.

This lovely quote, often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, is another example of a phrase mistakenly linked to a famous figure. Gandhi expressed a similar sentiment in his writings—the idea that change must begin with oneself—but the exact wording is not his. The phrase is more accurately attributed to Arleen Lorrance, a 1970s educator.

In the early 20th century, Evelyn Beatrice Hall published The Friends of Voltaire, a biography of the French philosopher. In it, as a way to illustrate Voltaire’s beliefs on freedom of speech, she penned the phrase: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." The maxim was such a good synopsis of Voltairian ideals that most people came to believe it was a direct quote from him.

On April 13, 1970, the Apollo 13 spacecraft had to abort its mission due to the explosion of an oxygen tank. Astronaut Jack Swigert first reported the issue with the words: "Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here." Jim Lovell later repeated, "Houston, we’ve had a problem." How did the misquote become so popular? In the 1995 film Apollo 13, the screenwriter thought the past tense was not dramatic enough, and he changed it to "we have a problem."

One could argue that this phrase is one of the quintessential Sherlock Holmes sayings. But did you know it wasn’t written by Arthur Conan Doyle? Sherlock Holmes does call his companion "my dear Watson," and he uses the word "elementary" when describing his deductions, but the full phrase —"Elementary, my dear Watson"— first appeared in a 1899 stage play and was later popularized by Basil Rathbone’s film adaptations.

Real Trekkies know that this phrase, though popular, was never actually spoken by Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series. He did say similar lines, such as "Mr. Scott, beam us up," and other variants. The misquote became so popular that it entered popular culture as a saying of its own.

Some could argue that the Bible is the most misquoted book of all time. This particular phrase, often cited from Paul’s first letter to Timothy, is used to criticize money, but most people don’t realize that it is only a partial quote. The full passage—"For the love of money is the root of all evil"—warns against the dangers of loving money excessively.

The truth about your brain

You won’t believe what happens in your brain while you sleep

Image: Milad Fakurian

Your brain is one of the most powerful and mysterious organs in your body. It controls everything from your thoughts to your emotions and even processes information at lightning speed. But how much do you really know about it? Some long-believed myths about the brain have been debunked, while other surprising facts reveal just how incredible this organ truly is. Get ready to be amazed by these fascinating brain facts!

Image: Natasha Connell

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s completely false! While it’s true that not all parts of the brain fire at the same time, imaging studies show that most regions are active throughout the day, even when we sleep.

Your brain is constantly working, controlling bodily functions and emotions, and processing information. So next time someone says you’re only using 10% of your brain, you can confidently tell them that’s just a myth!

Image: Aarón Blanco Tejedor

Here’s a weird fact: While your brain processes pain signals from the rest of your body, it has no pain receptors of its own. This is why surgeons can perform brain surgery on conscious patients without causing them pain.

However, the membranes and tissues surrounding the brain do have pain receptors, which is why headaches and brain injuries can be so excruciating.

Image: Usman Yousaf

How come we have headaches if the brain has no pain receptors? Well, that’s because headaches are triggered by chemical activity in the brain, changes in nerves and blood vessels, and even fluctuating serotonin levels.

In some cases, hormones like estrogen can also play a role, which explains why migraines are more common in women.

Image: Go to Johannes Plenio's profile Johannes Plenio

Dreams are proof that your brain never rests! (Warning: this fact can make you feel exhausted.) While you sleep, your limbic system, that is, the part of the brain that deals with emotions, becomes especially active, which is why dreams often feel so intense.

On average, humans experience four to seven dreams per night, even if we don’t always remember them. And what about that scary nightmare about falling? Well, you can thank your amygdala, the brain’s fear center, for that one.

Image: Brett Jordan

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly forgotten what you were after? That’s because short-term memory only lasts about 20-30 seconds! That’s not enough!

Your brain holds a limited amount of information in its active state before deciding whether to store it or discard it. Ironically, we can’t really choose what makes the cut, but we do hope these facts stay with you!

Image: BUDDHI Kumar SHRESTHA

That sharp, icy pain when you eat something too cold? It’s your brain’s way of telling you to slow down! Officially called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, a brain freeze happens when cold food or drinks rapidly chill the blood vessels in your throat, causing them to constrict and then rapidly expand. This sends pain signals to your brain, warning you of the sudden temperature shift. It’s annoying, but it’s actually your body trying to protect itself!

Image: Josh Riemer

You didn’t need us to tell you, but let’s look at the details: The average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. What’s even more interesting? 95% of those thoughts are the same ones you had yesterday. Is that not surprising enough? Hear this out: 80% of them tend to be negative. That’s because our brains are wired for survival, constantly analyzing risks and potential dangers.

Image: Terry Vlisidis

Even though it only makes up about 2% of your body weight, your brain employs a major quantity of energy! It consumes 20% of your oxygen and blood supply, making it one of the most demanding organs in your body.

If your brain goes without oxygen for just five minutes, brain cells start dying, leading to irreversible damage. This is why deep breathing and cardiovascular exercise are great for brain health!

Image: Alexander Andrews

Do you know that feeling when you hit the back of your head and see stars? That’s because your occipital lobe, which controls vision, is located at the back of your brain. If you get hit there, your brain momentarily misfires, causing flashes of light.

Interestingly, your brain processes vision on the opposite side; while your right brain controls your left eye, your left brain controls your right eye. It’s one of the many ways the brain operates in a complex way.

Image: Rodion Kutsaiev

Believe it or not, your brain generates between 12 and 25 watts of electricity when you’re awake. If you can’t really grasp how powerful that is, check this out: It’s enough to power a small light bulb! Your brain’s electrical activity is what allows neurons to send signals at speeds of up to 260 miles per hour.

Image: Robina Weermeijer

Your brain may be the fattiest organ in your body, consisting of at least 60% fat! This is why consuming healthy fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s present in fish, for example, is essential for brain health.

Healthy fats stabilize brain cell walls, reduce inflammation, and support cognitive function. So go ahead and enjoy that avocado toast, it’s food for your brain!

Image: Robina Weermeijer

It’s not just your memory that fades over time; the brain itself physically shrinks as one gets older. It continues developing until your late 40s, but after that, it slowly decreases in size.

Now, size doesn’t equal intelligence, so a smaller brain doesn’t necessarily mean a less capable one. Staying mentally active, exercising, and eating brain-boosting foods can help keep it in top shape!

Image: Lisa Yount

We often think of cholesterol as bad, but your brain actually depends on it! In fact, 25% of your body’s cholesterol is stored in your brain, where it helps with learning and memory. However, unlike other organs, the brain can’t absorb cholesterol from the blood, it has to produce its own. So, while too much cholesterol in the body can be harmful, the right amount is vital for brain function. At least you can use that as an excuse to get that burger!