Literary Quotes

“Read in order to live.” — Gustave Flaubert

Everyone likes a good quote. Some people memorize them, some people print them out and post them at their desks, some people just like to collect them for the sake of collecting.

Looking for a quote? Like to receive literary quotes in your email? There are many websites offering quotations. If you’re looking for something specific it can difficult or time consuming to search. Following is a listing of websites whose main focus is sharing literary quotes.

• LitQuotes – features hundreds of literary quotes. Visitors can browse all the quotes or search for quotes by author, title or subject. The site is pretty crisp and clean, easy to manoeuvre.
• Quoteland – Easy to read large print. Quotes sorted into nine topics headings. Discussion group area to talk with others about quotes. Helpful faq on how to use their page and search function. You can sign up with your email to receive a quote of the week. If you really like the quotes you find you can click on an icon to have them engraved on a mug, bookmark t-shirt� you get the picture.
• The Quotations & Sayings Database – Excellent place to search for sayings if are unsure of the complete quote. Search the words you have.

What To Do With Them

10 tips for using literary quotes

1. One of the most common ones I’ve seen is using them in the signature line of your email. You’ll have to check the properties of your email program to see how to do it. I’ve picked up many a good quote from someone’s signature line.

2. If you are a fan of blank greeting cards you can use inspirational or uplifting quotes to decorate the inside. They are good space fillers if you are lacking the words yourself.

3. They make great additions to website content and again are a good filler for white space. Use them has subheadings on related pages.

4. Use as writing prompts for journaling or freewriting. Sit down with your book and pen, write the quote at the top of the page then write whatever comes into your mind relating to the quote. For quotes and other writing prompts check out The Write Prompts blog.

5. Print some out on some pretty paper and post them on your fridge and filing cabinet. Change them every week.

6. Short ones can be written on the back of your business card when you hand them out.

7. Send electronic postcards. BellaOnline has many postcards with quotes. Feel free to send them to your friends and family.

8. They are a wonderful icebreaker for starting off a presentation or other public speaking engagement.

9. Quotes make excellent additions to album margins of scrapbooks.

10. You can keep inspirational ones on slips of paper in a jar (or decorative box) on your desk and slip one out when you need some motivation. It goes right back in afterward. Be sure to add new ones occasionally.

Happy quote hunting.

Originally published 9/12/2005 at Literary Fiction, BellaOnline