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Did They Say That? Trivia Quiz

These are some common misquotations. Can you pick out the correct versions?

A multiple-choice quiz by jamesf. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jamesf

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
263,972

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2403

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. From Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice": "All that glitters is not gold." But what did Shakespeare really write?

Hint

All that glitters is not Christmas tinsel.

All that glisters is not gold.

All that glitters is not old.

All that glitters must be gold.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. "Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink." This is a frequent misquotation of Coleridge. What is the correct line? Hint

Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.

Water, water, everywhere, but nothing here to drink.

Gin and tonic everywhere, I really need a drink.

There is no water anywhere, and not a drop to drink.

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. "Alas! Poor Yorick. I knew him well." But the Bard didn't write that. What should it be? Hint

Alas! Poor Yorick. He's really not looking too well.

Alas! Poor Yorick. Horatio, I knew him well.

Alas, Horatio! I knew poor Yorick well.

Alas! Poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio.

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. "I must go down to the sea again." This is a misquote from John Masefield. What is the correct version? Hint

I must down to the seas again.

I must go back to the sea again.

I must go down and see again.

I must go and see a man about a dog again.

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. "Lead on, Macduff". Another misquotation from Shakespeare - what did the Bard write? Hint

Lay on, Macduff

Lead on, Macbeth.

Lead me to Macduff.

Keep your dog on a lead, Macduff.

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. A misquote from the Bible - the Authorised (King James) Version:
"Pride goes before a fall". What is the correct version? Hint

Pride goeth before destruction.

Pride goeth before all things.

Summer comes before Fall.

Pride goeth before the meek.

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Last one from Shakespeare - "We are such stuff as dreams are made of." What did the Swan of Avon really write? Hint

We are what dreams are made of.

We are what midsummer dreams are made of.

Sweet dreams are made of this.

We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Another Biblical misquotation - "Money is the root of all evil". But what should the quote be (in the King James version)? Hint

Lack of money is the root of all evil.

The love of money is the root of all evil.

Money is evil at the root.

Money corrupts, more money corrupts more.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Now, a patriotic song from the United Kingdom -
"Rule, Britannia!
Britannia rules the waves..."
What was the original version by James Thomson? Hint

Rule, Britannia, rule the slaves...

Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves...

Rule, Britannia! rule the waves...

Rude Britannia, she hardly ever waves...

10. I hope that you have found this quiz not too difficult. But if you feel inclined to say "Elementary, my dear Watson", you would not be quoting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. What did Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes say? Hint

Elementary, my dear Periodic Table.

Elementary, to a man of my intelligence, dear Watson.

Eventually, my dear Watson.

Exactly, my dear Watson.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. From Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice": "All that glitters is not gold." But what did Shakespeare really write?

Answer: All that glisters is not gold.

From "The Merchant of Venice", Act 2.

2. "Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink." This is a frequent misquotation of Coleridge. What is the correct line?

Answer: Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.

This is from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner". They are at sea, parched with thirst, and surrounded by seawater.

3. "Alas! Poor Yorick. I knew him well." But the Bard didn't write that. What should it be?

Answer: Alas! Poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio.

This is from Act V of "Hamlet", where Hamlet and Horatio come upon the gravediggers preparing Ophelia's grave.

4. "I must go down to the sea again." This is a misquote from John Masefield. What is the correct version?

Answer: I must down to the seas again.

This is from Masefield's "Sea Fever":
"I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by."

Or, as Spike Milligan had it -
"I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
For I left my vest and socks there, and I wonder if they're dry."

5. "Lead on, Macduff". Another misquotation from Shakespeare - what did the Bard write?

Answer: Lay on, Macduff

From Macbeth, Act V: "Lay on, Macduff. And damn'd be him that first cries 'Hold, enough!'"

6. A misquote from the Bible - the Authorised (King James) Version: "Pride goes before a fall". What is the correct version?

Answer: Pride goeth before destruction.

From Proverbs: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

7. Last one from Shakespeare - "We are such stuff as dreams are made of." What did the Swan of Avon really write?

Answer: We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

This is from "The Tempest". Prospero says (Act IV, scene 1) -
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep."

8. Another Biblical misquotation - "Money is the root of all evil". But what should the quote be (in the King James version)?

Answer: The love of money is the root of all evil.

From the first epistle of Paul to Timothy.

9. Now, a patriotic song from the United Kingdom - "Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves..." What was the original version by James Thomson?

Answer: Rule, Britannia! rule the waves...

This was written by James Thomson (1763). When sung, it may appear as -

"Rule, Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves!
Britons never, never, never
Will be slaves!"- but the second "Britannia" does not occur in Thomson's original.

Answer: Exactly, my dear Watson.

At one point (in "The Crooked Man"), Holmes says "Elementary", but never "Elementary, my dear Watson". The phrase does appear later, however, in film versions of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Source: Author jamesf

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