#3. Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi is a hero not only in India but throughout the whole world, especially because of his legacy of non-violence and civil disobedience. However, people always misquote one of his most famous phrases.
You've probably seen people uploading pictures of Gandhi's face on Facebook together with the quote "Be the change you want to see in the world." Actually, what he said was: "If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change". Close enough!
#2. Machiavelli
When people are plotting some sort of evil plan, they always justify themselves by quoting Machiavelli, saying that "the ends justify the means". However, surprise surprise! Machiavelli never really said that.
No matter how catchy and convenient this distorted phrase sounds, what the Italian political theorist actually said was: "One must consider the final result".
#1. Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens is probably the most iconic writer in English history, but guess what? People always give him credit for a phrase that he never actually said.
People always quote Dickens by saying that "Happiness is a gift, and the trick is not to expect it but to delight in it when it comes. However, that line was written a century later by Douglas McGrath in his 2002 novel Nicholas Nickleby.