Everyone loves a great quote. They can often say what you want to say better than you could say it yourself. Not to mention, they’re handy things for when you want to teach, reprimand, or inspire in a succinct way.
However, words can get twisted around for a bunch of different reasons. Some of the most popular quotes in history, from Shakespeare to Gandhi, don’t actually mean what you think they mean.
Most Misunderstood Quotes in History
A lot of quotes take on new meanings after their author’s death. The removal or alteration of context, societal changes, and the passage of time can drastically change how people understand and use these sayings.
Here is a list of such quotes, from those that are only slightly changed to ones that were completely altered.
1. Money is the root of all evil.
Lots of people love throwing this quote around. However, the original quote taken from 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil” has a fundamental difference.
The misquoted line speaks of money as an absolute evil. The original acknowledges that money can be a good thing when used wisely and morally. Other passages from the Bible even support the latter (Ecclesiastes 7:12, Proverbs 11:25)
2. Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?
Modern ears have been confused by this line, with most interpreting it as Juliet asking where Romeo is. Consequently, many ladies have used it as a quip in the search for their own Romeos.
The confusion comes from the archaic word wherefore and its base word “where.” But this word actually means why. So Juliet’s actually asking “Why are you Romeo?”, not where he is.
She’s questioning why fate had to make her lover a Montague, the sworn enemy of her own family, the Capulets. If he was only any other man, then they would have a happily ever after.
3. The devil is in the details.
This idiom alludes to a catch hidden somewhere in the details of a contract, situation, or task. Problems can arise from unforeseen consequences that come from unexamined details.
It’s a bastardized form of another saying, “God is in the details.”, which has a slightly different connotation. It means that whatever you do must be done thoroughly and authentically. The “truth, if it exists, will be found in the details of what you do.
Both versions agree that details are important but in different ways. The first speaks of how a part can ruin the whole when you don’t pay attention. The original is more about doing even the smallest steps in the best way possible.
4. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
There was a time that if you wanted to be romantic, you take the Shakespeare route. Most people would take lines out of his sonnets, with “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” perhaps the most famous one.
But it turns out that we’ve been interpreting this line wrong—all because one person translated it wrong. In 1640, publisher John Benson released a highly inaccurate version of the Bard’s works. A big part of the inaccuracies was changing “he” into “she.”
So the subject of the poem (and Shakespeare’s first 126 sonnets) is actually male. The nature of their relationship is ambiguous so scholars are still unsure about Shakespeare’s sexuality.
5. East Is East And West Is West, And Never The Twain Shall Meet.
This line from Rudyard Kipling’s 1889 poem “The Ballad of East and West” is often used to argue that different cultures and locations will never see eye-to-eye.
In truth, its the exact opposite, as confirmed by the next few lines:
“But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!”
He’s actually telling you that differences are meaningless when people just look past them and get along. Prejudice against another is folly because we all live on the same earth.
6. Religion Is The Opium Of The Masses.
This quote appears in Karl Marx’s 1843 manuscript, “Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right” People commonly interpret it as Marx condemning religion as a drug that takes advantage of people by stealing their money and filling them with superficial appeasement.
Marx is definitely not a fan of religion but has a soft spot for the common folk who believe in it. During his time, opium was the only pain reliever that the proletariat likely had access to. In his view, religion may be false but has its uses as an analgesic that reduces a person’s suffering and provides them with illusions that let them continue on with life.
7. Blood is thicker than water.
When someone says blood is thicker than water, they mean family is more important than friendships, no matter what. But most people are also unaware of the complete quote: The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.
Here, “water of the womb” means family while “blood of the covenant” means blood shed on the battlefield. So its true meaning is that the bonds forged in battle are far stronger than familial ties.
8. No rest for the wicked.
Commonly used to mean that work never ends. However, the original quote, taken from Isiah 57:21 means something different.
The true line reads as “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” It’s not about sleep, but eternal torment for any sinner, whose only chance of peace is through God’s salvation.
9. I took the road less traveled.
This line, coming from Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken, is often used to encourage people to forge their own paths and reap the rewards of the unknown.
Frost never meant for his poem and that line to become a metaphor for individualism. In fact, he writes in the poem that the road he took was “just as fair” and worn down “really about the same” as the other one.
Frost simply chose a path by random, because choices don’t really matter. The ending of the poem (“And that has made all the difference.”) is simply an after-the-fact attempt to justify his choice.
10. Curiosity killed the cat.
Curiosity killed the cat is an idiom people say to warn about the dangers of unnecessary exploration and experimentation. Or that curiosity eventually leads to danger.
The complete quote, “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back” completely changes its meaning. Rather than discouragement, it tells you that while curiosity can be dangerous, it will also be worth the trouble if you succeed.
Quotes Can Change Meaning
Language is an ever-evolving tool causing words and phrases to be forgotten, altered, and gain new meaning. So it’s no surprise that a lot of the quotes we like to use are abridged, changed, or originally meant something else.
It’s not like you can force someone to adhere to the “true” meaning of these quotes, especially when their modern connotations are already widely used. However, it does make sense to be aware of how these sayings have evolved, as you gain a better understanding as to why they mean that way.
What’s your favorite misinterpreted quote? Share them in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
