To Quote or not to Quote?

[Erin77777]

What is the name of your state?
Oregon

I'd like to make some t-shirts for eventual on-line sale using inspiring quotes from historical figures. The author would be credited right after the quote. Is there a difference if I quote the living vs. the ....gone?

Any insight greatly appreciated.
Erin

 

[divgradcurl]

I'd like to make some t-shirts for eventual on-line sale using inspiring quotes from historical figures. The author would be credited right after the quote. Is there a difference if I quote the living vs. the ....gone?

As far as the dead guys go, unless the phrase is trademarked, you can use the phrase without trouble.

For alive guys, ditto the trademark issue. Further, you want to make sure that you actually quote them correctly, and don't take anything out of context that could be considered "libelous" or "slanderous."

Fortunately, the dead cannot sue for slander!