It was bound to happen. I’ve become an accidental plagiarist. I have read and heard so many sayings, quotes, opinions and advice about marketing and related subjects like art, writing, technology and creativity, I can’t recall who said most of them.

So I often catch myself quoting them and introducing them by, “Somebody once said….” or “One of my favorite marketing quotes is….” or “I don’t remember who said this but…”

And in candor, there have been times that I just used the quote when I was speaking and skipped the attribution because I thought I came up with it.

Later, I might realize I didn’t write it and that start to feel guilty. I am torn, wondering if I should send an email to the group I spoke with, or go to confession or go see a doctor about my memory.

But I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes and I’ll attribute all I can. You can assume I did not write most of them, but many I have given my own twist. Enjoy them. Use them. And pass them on.

1. “Our job is to find the truth and present it well.” — Leo Burnett
2. “If you steal from one author, it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many, it’s research.” — Wilson Mizner
3. “Bad artists copy, good artists steal.” —Pablo Picasso
4. “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln
5. “A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.” — Comedian Steven Wright

6. “Try to say everything in an ad and you end up saying nothing.” — Jeff Mamula

7. “Non-profit organizations have to build ships — memberships, relationships and sponsorships. — George Farris
8. “Sell the problem you solve. Not the product you make.” — unknown
9. “Business has two functions — Marketing and Innovation.” — Milan Kundera
10. “As a rule, if you want to be a great writer you have to be a great reader.”  — Mark Gilroy
11. “Everyone is not your customer.” — Seth Goodin
12. “If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.” — Gen. George Patton
13. “Social media has changed marketing. Now it’s not just about what you say. It’s also what your customers are saying to everyone else.” — George Farris
14. “…know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself.” — Peter Drucker

15. “Conversation with customers will increase sales, even if the product or service is never mentioned.” — George Farris

16. “When it comes to social media, focus on advice and education first, information second and entertainment last.” — George Farris
17. “Make the customer the hero of your story.” — Ann Handley
18. “Investigate. Innovate. And then communicate.” — George Farris
19. “Think like a customer.” — Paul Gillin.
20. “The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing.” — Tom Fishburne
21. “Master the topic, the message and the delivery” — Steve Jobs
22. “You will never have a second chance to make a first impression.” — Will Rogers
23. “You can have everything you want in life if you just help enough people get what they want.” — Zig Ziglar
24. “We elect and buy from people we like. Likability is number one. We also need to believe they are honest, and have our best interests at heart.” — George Farris
25. “Focus on the core problem your business solves and put out lots of content and enthusiasm, and ideas about how to solve that problem.” — Laura Fitton
26. “As you’ve noticed, people don’t want to be sold. What people do want is news and information about the things they care about.” — Larry Weber

27. “If you are the CEO, you are the brand.” — George Farris

Did you see any you like or can use? By all means, share them.