Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Play ·11 of 348
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
They never said that.
What people say
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
What was actually said
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet." Juliet — Romeo and Juliet, II.ii (c. 1595)
Why it stuck
The short form keeps the punchline but loses the question — Juliet is asking whether names matter at all.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.