Quotable Quotes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Muhammad Ali

This famous comment was made in 1964, when Ali was still known as Cassius Clay. He was due to face Sonny Liston, who was considered unbeatable. When asked what his tactics would be, the response was the quote in the question, which finished 'your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see'. It brought fame to the fighter, who went on to beat Liston in what was a huge sporting shock. The rematch, the following year, ended controversially in a first round knock out , with Ali again victorious.

'It's not bragging if you can back it up' and 'It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am' are among Ali's often quoted sayings.

Your probably didn't need it, but the picture of a boxer dog might have confirmed the answer if you had a shadow of doubt.

Answer: Winston Churchill

Churchill was known for his quick wit and has many well known sayings which could have been used in this quiz. His way with words is credited with keeping morale high during the long years of the Second World War, during which he was Britain's Prime Minister. He forged an alliance with Russia and the USA which eventually led to the downfall of Hitler. Churchill's speeches were stirring, deliberately so, referring the the RAF pilots as 'the few' and promising to fight for every inch of land, ending 'we shall never surrender'.

The photo is a clue to Churchill's habits. He was well known for his love of cigars and alcohol. Another of his quotes is 'I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me'.

Answer: Dolly Parton

According to my research, Dolly first said these words in a tweet she posted in April 2013, making the point that success (the rainbow) is often accompanied by problems (the rain). Other quotations attributed to her are 'You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try' and 'Storms make trees take deeper roots'.

Dolly's career has included song writing, singing, acting and running various businesses. Her long lasting career is testament to her determination and a gift for self parody - another of her sayings is 'it takes a lot of money to look this cheap'.

The photo clue is a hint towards one of her best known song, 'I Will Always Love You', recorded by Dolly herself but projected into the mainstream by Whitney Houston's version in 1992. It was actually written as a farewell song to a friend rather than a love song.

Answer: Nikita Khrushchev

These words by Khrushchev were quoted in 'Time Magazine' in 1958, when he was voted their 'Man of the Year'. The words refer to the art of compromise, where negotiations mean both sides end up with less than they hoped but are each satisfied with the outcome. Edmund Burke made the same point - 'Every human benefit, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise'

Among other quotes from the former Soviet leader are 'If you live among wolves you have to act like a wolf' and 'The more bombers, the less room for doves of peace'.

The photo is of Cossacks to point you towards Russia..

Answer: Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde can always be relied upon to provide a good quotation, and this one appears in his play 'The Importance of Being Earnest'. It's a riposte to the saying 'the pure and simple truth'. Wilde was well known for his flamboyant style and was openly homosexual at a time when this was illegal. His refusal to conform cost him dearly, including spending time in prison and then abroad.

Oscar Wilde left us with a wealth of comments, so choosing just a couple wasn't easy. I've picked these - 'Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go' and 'Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them'.

Your picture clue, should you have needed it, is an Academy Award, otherwise known as an Oscar.

Answer: Alexander Graham Bell

I wouldn't necessarily have thought of Alexander Graham Bell as someone who left us words of wisdom, but there are quite a few quotations from him. Born in Scotland, Bell moved to Canada in 1870. He had long had an interest in the properties of sound and this led to his invention of the telephone. Bell also worked extensively with deaf people. The quotation in the question reminds us to look to the future and stop regretting the past.

Other sayings of his include 'Before anything else, preparation is the key to success' and Educate the masses, elevate their standard of intelligence, and you will certainly have a successful nation'.

The photographic clue, not that Bell would have recognised it, is a successor to his invention - the mobile (cell) phone.

Answer: Mae West

The American actress Mae West was well known for her innuendoes, which were often shocking at the time. It didn't do her much harm, though, as she had a long career on the stage, in films, television and radio, despite the efforts of the censors. The actress often referred to Mae West as being a 'character' she had created, rather than her real persona.

Some of her double entendres are unsuitable to quote on here, but I have found two more quotes for you - 'Marriage is a fine institution, but I'm not ready for an institution' and 'I used to be Snow White, but I drifted'.

The photo clue shows a life jacket, nicknamed a 'Mae West' during her heyday.

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

Britain's first female Prime Minister has been credited with several quotations although, being realistic, these may well have been written for her. The one in the question does seem like something she might have said herself, though. Not only was Margaret Thatcher the first female to become Britain's parliamentary leader, she also lasted a long time (in political terms) serving from 1979 until ousted in 1990.

Among her other well know comments are 'To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only this to say, 'You turn if you want; the lady's not for turning."' This was a double play on words - 'U-turn' and 'you turn' and 'The Lady's Not for Burning', the title of a play by Christopher Fry. She also said 'In politics, If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman', which probably applies in many spheres other than politics.

The photo clue shows one of Margaret's favourite weapons.

Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.

The words in the question were written by Martin Luther King Jr. in a letter from Birmingham Jail on April 6, 1963. He had been imprisoned due to his activism in the cause of civil rights for African Americans. Once released, he continued his work before being assassinated in 1968 by James Earl Ray, who was imprisoned for life and died in 1998.

'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that' and 'You can kill the dreamer, but you can't kill the dream'.

Martin Luther King was the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a Baptist minister, so the photo is of a Bible as a hint.

Answer: Nelson Mandela

This is another quotation that reminds us that negotiation is the way forward. Nelson Mandela had spent 27 years in prison for his opposition to the apartheid system in South Africa. If anyone had cause for bitterness, he did but he recognised that the way forward was to compromise with and negotiate with those in power. The outcome was that he became South Africa's president and is remembered around the world for his humanity.

Other notable quotations from Mandela are 'It is in your hands, to make a better world for all who live in it' and 'What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others'.

The photo clue shows a pair of springboks, the national animal of South Africa.