100+ MLA Format Quotes & Copywriting Examples for Perfect Citations

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" (Dickens 5).

"Call me Ishmael" (Melville 1).

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (Fitzgerald 180).

"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" (Tolstoy 1).

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife" (Austen 1).

"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice" (Fitzgerald 3).

"The world was hers for the reading" (Hemmings 76).

"He had never been to sea, but he loved the smell of salt and wind" (Conrad 43).

"She smiled at no one and everyone" (Woolf 92).

"Darkness was dropping before them like a curtain" (Lawrence 112).

"He spoke little, but his eyes said volumes" (James 67).

"They danced until dawn, forgetting time and consequence" (Hemingway 89).

As Smith explains, "the roots of modern democracy stretch deep into Enlightenment thought" (45).

Johnson argues that "climate change is not just environmental—it’s cultural" (78).

According to Lee, "identity is formed in the space between memory and imagination" (102).

Garcia notes, "language shapes perception far more than we admit" (33).

As Patel observes, "economic inequality begins in education" (56).

Miller states, "the hero’s journey is internal long before it becomes external" (29).

Chen writes, "urban design reflects societal values" (88).

Davis emphasizes, "listening is the foundation of empathy" (12).

Taylor claims, "digital fatigue is the new stress epidemic" (61).

Nguyen points out, "migration stories are always about belonging" (105).

Robinson asserts, "creativity thrives under constraints" (37).

White suggests, "minimalism isn't emptiness—it's clarity" (73).

"Time is a flat circle" (Nietzsche 22).

"Truth is stranger than fiction" (Twain 15).

"We are what we repeatedly do" (Aristotle 8).

"Art imitates life" (Shaw 34).

"Power corrupts" (Acton 11).

"Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder" (Beauvoir 57).

"To be or not to be" (Shakespeare 3.1.58).

"Ignorance is bliss" (Gray 10).

"Knowledge is power" (Bacon 21).

"The pen is mightier than the sword" (Milton 4).

"God helps those who help themselves" (Franklin 18).

"Actions speak louder than words" (Proverb 7).

In her seminal work, Thompson writes:     The city pulsed with energy, lights flickering like stars fallen to earth.     People moved in rhythm, unaware of their collective heartbeat.     Each step echoed history, each breath carried dreams.     This was not just urban life—it was poetry in motion (Thompson 134).

As Orwell elaborates:     The clocks were striking thirteen.     I looked up at the pale sky, knowing freedom was gone.     Big Brother watched, not with eyes, but with silence.     Dissent died before it could breathe (Orwell 3).

Lin reflects:     She sat by the river, watching leaves drift downstream.     Each one carried a memory she couldn’t name.     The water whispered secrets only the heart could hear.     And in that moment, she felt both lost and found (Lin 88).

Martinez observes:     Education should not be a ladder to wealth     but a bridge to understanding.     When we teach only facts, we starve the soul.     Curiosity must be nurtured, not tested (Martinez 67).

Kim writes:     The mountain stood silent, cloaked in mist.     No flag marked its peak, no name honored its height.     Yet climbers came, drawn by something beyond glory.     Perhaps it was the voice of solitude they sought (Kim 101).

Adams states:     Democracy dies not with violence     but with apathy.     When citizens stop questioning,     tyranny moves in quietly (Adams 203).

Rivera notes:     Poetry is not decoration.     It is resistance.     Every line carved against silence     is a rebellion (Rivera 45).

Clarke explains:     Technology promises connection     but often delivers isolation.     We scroll endlessly,     yet feel more alone than ever (Clarke 77).

Ng writes:     Home is not a place you find.     It’s a feeling you carry.     Sometimes it lives in a song,     sometimes in a scent (Ng 112).

Ford reflects:     Leadership is not about being heard.     It’s about listening deeply.     The best decisions come not from ego,     but from empathy (Ford 54).

Singh argues:     Globalization has flattened economies     but deepened cultural divides.     We trade goods freely     but guard our identities fiercely (Singh 91).

Young observes:     Childhood is not innocence.     It is discovery.     Every scraped knee teaches balance,     every tear reveals depth (Young 28).

Modern society often equates busyness with productivity, though true effectiveness comes from focused effort rather than constant activity (Brown 41).

Emotional intelligence plays a larger role in leadership success than technical skills, according to recent studies (Green 66).

Students learn better when they feel emotionally safe in the classroom environment (Taylor 89).

Digital communication reduces nonverbal cues, increasing the likelihood of misunderstandings (Lee 103).

Creativity flourishes when individuals are given autonomy and time to explore (Roberts 35).

Sustainable development requires balancing economic growth with environmental protection (Clark 72).

Reading fiction enhances empathy by allowing readers to experience other perspectives (Moore 58).

Effective feedback should be specific, timely, and focused on behavior rather than personality (Hill 44).

Urban green spaces contribute significantly to mental well-being (Perez 110).

Multilingual individuals process information more flexibly than monolingual peers (Kim 27).

Authentic relationships are built on vulnerability and mutual trust (Adams 60).

Historical narratives often reflect the biases of those who record them (Wong 15).

"It was the best of times... borne back ceaselessly into the past" (Dickens 5).

"All happy families are alike... each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" (Tolstoy 1).

"She smiled... forgetting time and consequence" (Hemingway 89).

"The city pulsed... poetry in motion" (Thompson 134).

"Education should not be a ladder... Curiosity must be nurtured, not tested" (Martinez 67).

"Power corrupts... absolute power corrupts absolutely" (Acton 11).

"We are what we repeatedly do... excellence, then, is not an act but a habit" (Aristotle 8).

"Language shapes perception... far more than we admit" (Garcia 33).

"Digital fatigue... the new stress epidemic" (Taylor 61).

"Migration stories... are always about belonging" (Nguyen 105).

"Minimalism isn't emptiness... it's clarity" (White 73).

"Listening is the foundation... of empathy" (Davis 12).

"She [Maria] smiled at no one and everyone" (Woolf 92).

"He [Dr. Evans] spoke little, but his eyes said volumes" (James 67).

"The students [in Professor Lin’s class] danced until dawn" (Hemingway 89).

"As [the poet] Rivera notes, poetry is resistance" (45).

"Climate change is not just environmental—it’s cultural [and political]" (Johnson 78).

"The river [which ran behind her childhood home] whispered secrets" (Lin 88).

"Urban design reflects societal values [including equity and access]" (Chen 88).

"Identity is formed [through both personal and collective memory]" (Lee 102).

"Economic inequality begins [most critically] in education" (Patel 56).

"The hero’s journey is internal [before it becomes visible]" (Miller 29).

"Digital fatigue is the new stress epidemic [especially among teens]" (Taylor 61).

"Migration stories are always about belonging [even when unspoken]" (Nguyen 105).

"Social media algorithms prioritize engagement over truth" (Smith, “Digital Dilemma,” www.mediacrit.com).

"Remote work increases productivity but risks employee burnout" (Jones, “Future of Work,” www.worktrends.org).

"Mindfulness practices reduce anxiety by 30% in clinical trials" (Lee, “Mental Health Today,” www.mindful.org).

"Renewable energy adoption grew by 15% last year" (Green, “EcoReport 2023,” www.ecofuture.net).

"Gen Z values authenticity over polish in brand messaging" (Taylor, “Youth Culture Now,” www.youthinsight.com).

"AI writing tools assist creativity but cannot replace human insight" (Robinson, “Tech & Text,” www.writinglab.ai).

"Urban farming improves food security in low-income neighborhoods" (Martinez, “Green Cities,” www.urbanharvest.org).

"Podcasts have surpassed radio in youth listenership" (Ng, “Audio Trends,” www.soundwave.edu).

"Digital minimalism leads to improved focus and sleep" (White, “Unplugged Living,” www.simplelife.com).

"Customer loyalty depends on emotional connection, not discounts" (Davis, “Brand Trust,” www.marketingnext.com).

"Online learning widens access but deepens the digital divide" (Chen, “EdTech Review,” www.learnonline.edu).

"Visual storytelling dominates social media engagement" (Kim, “Content Rules,” www.viralpost.net).

"Collaboration drives innovation in interdisciplinary teams" (Smith and Lee 45).

"Cultural narratives shape national identity" (Garcia et al. 88).

"Early childhood education impacts lifelong outcomes" (Patel, Nguyen, and Kim 102).

"Social cohesion declines with rising income gaps" (Adams and Ford 76).

"AI ethics must involve technologists and philosophers" (Robinson et al. 133).

"Media representation influences self-perception" (Taylor, White, and Davis 59).

"Sustainable cities require policy and community action" (Chen and Martinez 91).

"Empathy training improves patient care outcomes" (Ng and Hill 34).

"Digital literacy is now as essential as reading" (Brown et al. 22).

"Public art fosters civic pride and dialogue" (Lewis and Clarke 67).

"Parental involvement boosts academic performance" (Young and Perez 48).

"Climate adaptation strategies must be locally informed" (Singh et al. 105).

As cited in Johnson, Smith argues that "democracy requires active participation" (qtd. in Johnson 121).

As noted by Lee, Garcia observes that "language loss erases cultural memory" (qtd. in Lee 88).

According to Brown, Taylor claims "burnout begins with blurred boundaries" (qtd. in Brown 65).

As reported by Kim, Nguyen states "refugee resilience is underestimated" (qtd. in Kim 104).

As summarized by Clark, Adams writes "leadership is service first" (qtd. in Clark 52).

As referenced in Moore, Roberts says "curiosity drives real learning" (qtd. in Moore 37).

As mentioned by Hill, Young believes "play is essential to development" (qtd. in Hill 29).

As discussed by Wong, Singh argues "global justice requires shared responsibility" (qtd. in Wong 90).

As conveyed by Ford, Miller states "storytelling builds community" (qtd. in Ford 74).

As relayed by Perez, White claims "simplicity enhances clarity" (qtd. in Perez 61).

As quoted in Davis, Robinson writes "innovation needs space to fail" (qtd. in Davis 44).

As cited in Chen, Kim notes "technology should serve people, not control them" (qtd. in Chen 82).