quotability

Quotability is the quality or capacity of a statement to be remembered, repeated, and cited by others. It describes how likely a sentence, phrase, or short passage is to enter common usage as a quotation, motto, or proverb rather than being read once and forgotten.

Key features include brevity, clarity, and a distinctive turn of phrase; universality or salient relevance beyond its original context; originality or insight; and the use of rhythmic or rhetorical devices such as parallelism, metaphor, or alliteration. Effective quotable lines often elicit a concise image, emotional resonance, or a new way of framing a idea. Timing and cultural resonance also influence quotability; what resonates in one era or community may not in another.

Quotability is influenced by audience, platform, and dissemination networks. It is not a measure of truth or importance but of communicative effectiveness and memorability. In practice, quotable phrases appear in literature, journalism, politics, entertainment, advertising, and social media, where repeated usage can reinforce ideas, brand attributes, or personas.

Because quotability is subjective, scholars and analysts approach it with qualitative criteria—clarity, concision, originality, and the ease of repetition—often supplemented by data from quotation databases, media citations, and social sharing patterns. Related concepts include aphorisms, proverbs, quotations, and memes.