Some of history’s most famous quotes were never actually said. From “Let them eat cake” to Gandhi’s “Be the change,” we uncover the myths, mistakes, and tall tales that keep bad history alive.

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"All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players." – William Shakespeare

This week on Quotable History, we step behind the curtain and into the world of one of history’s greatest storytellers: William Shakespeare. From muddy streets in Stratford-upon-Avon to the bustling stages of Elizabethan London, host Will Henry explores how a glove maker’s son became the most influential playwright in the English language.

We examine the legacy of the man who gave us Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet—and reflect on what it means that we’re all just players on the grand stage of life. Whether you’ve seen a Broadway hit or a local high school play, this episode is a tribute to the power of theater—and to the enduring wisdom of Shakespeare.

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Stuff I Looked Up:

Shakespeare's Words, https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-words/#:~:text=William%20Shakespeare%20is%20credited%20with,still%20used%20in%20English%20today&text=William%20Shakespeare%20used%20more%20than,words%20in%20the%20English%20language.

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/william-shakespeare-biography/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Shakespeare

Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.

In this episode of Quotable History, we dive into the life and legacy of Elvis Presley—the man who transformed the sound of popular music and left an indelible mark on American culture. From his humble beginnings in Tupelo, Mississippi, to his meteoric rise as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, we explore the influences that shaped his sound, the controversies that followed his fame, and the enduring impact of his work. Along the way, we uncover the personal struggles behind the public persona and the quote that captured his view on fame and fortune.

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Link to Elvis performance:

https://youtu.be/61-RycNKdJk?si=JFRvzlf9Y5ORVbtp

Sources

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elvis-Presley

https://www.biography.com/musicians/elvis-presley

https://www.graceland.com/biography

In the second part of our deep dive into Franklin Delano Roosevelt, we move from the Great Depression to America’s entry into World War II — a chapter defined by the attack on Pearl Harbor and the president’s resolve in the face of global crisis.

How did FDR navigate the isolationist sentiment at home while confronting fascist regimes abroad? What led to America’s inevitable involvement in the deadliest conflict in human history? And what were the triumphs — and dark contradictions — of FDR’s leadership during this defining era?

Join me, Will Henry, as we unpack the events, decisions, and words that shaped one of the most consequential presidencies in American history.

—

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🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share if you enjoy the show.

Sources

• Ken Burns, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, directed by Ken Burns (PBS, 2014), https://www.pbs.org/show/the-roosevelts/.
• 
  
• OverSimplified, WWII - OverSimplified (Part 1), YouTube video, 29:53, May 10, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1tYCO3F-mY.
• 
  
• OverSimplified, WWII - OverSimplified (Part 2), YouTube video, 24:58, July 19, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo2Rb9h788s.
• 
  
• Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Day of Infamy Speech,” address to a joint session of Congress, December 8, 1941, in The American Presidency Project, University of California, Santa Barbara, https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-congress-reque
• Biography.com editors. “Franklin D. Roosevelt.”
• Encyclopædia Britannica. s.v. “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Last modified April 6, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franklin-D-Roosevelt.

In one of the darkest moments in American history, a paralyzed president stood before a broken nation and declared: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” But what did Franklin D. Roosevelt mean by that famous line — and why did it resonate so deeply?

In this episode of Quotable History, Will Henry takes you on a journey through FDR’s remarkable life, from his privileged upbringing and personal battles with polio to his masterful leadership during the Great Depression. You’ll discover how his rhetoric lifted the morale of millions, how the New Deal reshaped America, and why his legacy remains both celebrated and controversial.

As the U.S. teetered on the brink of collapse, FDR inspired a nation to overcome fear — but the story doesn’t end there. Next week, we explore how he faced an even greater challenge: World War II.

Subscribe, leave a review, and join us each week as we uncover the stories behind history’s most powerful words.

🔔 New episodes every Tuesday

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🙏 Special thanks to Rachel Henry—for her unwavering support and essential editing work behind the scenes.

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, text the link to one friend who loves history. That’s how we grow—one curious mind at a time.

Sources:

Ken Burns, dir. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. PBS, 2014. Documentary film series.

FDR Library & Museum, “FDR Biography.” https://www.fdrlibrary.org/fdr-biography

Wendy Mead. “7 Facts About Franklin Roosevelt.”

https://www.biography.com/political-figures/a65191884/franklin-d-roosevelt-facts

Biography.com editors. “Franklin D. Roosevelt.”

https://www.biography.com/political-figures/franklin-d-roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt. First Inaugural Address. March 4, 1933. Washington, D.C. National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/president-franklin-d-roosevelts-first-inaugural-address.

History.com Editors. “Stock Market Crash of 1929.”

https://www.history.com/articles/1929-stock-market-crash

Teach History.org “The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”

https://teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/24468

In this episode of Quotable History, we shine a light on the life and legacy of Thomas Edison — the inventor who recorded the first sound, lit up cities with his electric vision, and redefined modern life. From his humble beginnings to his groundbreaking inventions, we explore not just the man behind the lightbulb, but the relentless drive, failures, and controversies that shaped his career. Along the way, we’ll hear his famous recording of Mary Had a Little Lamb, and uncover what made Edison one of history’s most quotable — and complex — figures.

Listen now to discover the story of America’s most prolific inventor, and what we can learn from his spark of genius.

🔔 New episodes every Tuesday

📲 Follow on social:

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TikTok → @quotable.history

🙏 Special thanks to Rachel Henry—for her unwavering support and essential editing work behind the scenes.

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, text the link to one friend who loves history and don’t forget to subscribe. That’s how we grow—one curious mind at a time.

Sources:

https://www.biography.com/inventors/thomas-edison

https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/the-phonograph.htm

https://edison.rutgers.edu/life-of-edison/essaying-edison/essay/myth-buster-topsy-the-elephant

https://www.thomasedison.org/the-edison-family

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Edison

We celebrate the Fourth of July—but John Adams was convinced it would be the Second. Why?

In this episode of Quotable History, host Will Henry dives into the political drama behind America's founding. From the Boston Massacre and the Tea Party to the fierce debates in the Continental Congress, this is the real story of how 13 colonies voted to break away from the British Empire—on July 2nd, 1776.

Featuring Adams’s iconic letter to Abigail and the clash between radicals and reconciliationists, we trace how independence was born—and why the ideals behind it still matter.

🎇 Hear why Adams thought July 2nd would be the day Americans would celebrate forever.

🔔 New episodes every Tuesday

📲 Follow on social:

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TikTok → @quotable.history

🙏 Special thanks to Rachel Henry—for her unwavering support and essential editing work behind the scenes.

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, text the link to one friend who loves history. That’s how we grow—one curious mind at a time.

Sources:

https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/online-exhibitions/timeline-american-revolution

https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/07/02/john-adams-vision-of-july-4-was-july-2/

https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/doc?id=L17760703jasecond

Joe Rogan Experience #2336 – Ken Burns, published June 11, 2025

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration/how-did-it-happen

In this episode of Quotable History, host Will Henry unpacks one of the most iconic quotes in the history of science, and the centuries of bold thinkers who made it possible. From Copernicus quietly challenging church doctrine, to Galileo facing the Inquisition, to Newton himself calculating the laws of the universe during a plague lockdown, we trace the legacy of those who dared to question the world around them.

This isn’t just the story of Newton. It’s the story of a revolution, the Scientific Revolution, and the brave minds who built the intellectual scaffolding that modern science stands on.

We’ll also examine why institutions often resist groundbreaking ideas, and what this history can teach us about the pursuit of truth in today’s world.

🔔 New episodes every Tuesday

📲 Follow on social:

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TikTok → @quotable.history

🙏 Special thanks to Rachel Henry—for her unwavering support and essential editing work behind the scenes.

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, text the link to one friend who loves history. That’s how we grow—one curious mind at a time.

Sources:

https://www.biography.com/scientists/isaac-newton

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isaac-Newton

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Galileo-Galilei

https://www.biography.com/scientists/nicolaus-copernicus

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicolaus-Copernicus

https://iep.utm.edu/rene-descartes/

https://galileo.library.rice.edu/sci/brahe.html

https://galileo.library.rice.edu/sci/kepler.html

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/24520/6-things-you-should-know-about-isaac-newton

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bacon_francis.shtml