Misuse of Quotes

"While quotes are fun, they can be misused and misattributed." - Mark Twain

One thing you have to consider as a writer, is how the viewer is directed through your answer. All writing should have a clear direction, a path from the beginning to the end, and when writing you should do your best to keep the viewer from straying from the path.

Every time you add a quote to your answer, you're asking the viewer to take a step off the path you're setting, and listen to part of another person's argument. If the quote is not carefully selected, or even too long. The viewer might not return to your argument with the same mindset as when they "stepped off".

This is why it can be bad if too many quotes are used in an answer, if the viewer doesn't know who's speaking to them, it can distance them from the argument. Using too many quotes can also harm your credibility, as it can lead viewers to think that you aren't versed in the subject enough to be able to argue on your own.

Misuse of Quotes

"While quotes are fun, they can be misused and misattributed." - Mark Twain

One thing you have to consider as a writer, is how the viewer is directed through your answer. All writing should have a clear direction, a path from the beginning to the end, and when writing you should do your best to keep the viewer from straying from the path.

Every time you add a quote to your answer, you're asking the viewer to take a step off the path you're setting, and listen to part of another person's argument. If the quote is not carefully selected, or even too long. The viewer might not return to your argument with the same mindset as when they "stepped off".

This is why it can be bad if too many quotes are used in an answer, if the viewer doesn't know who's speaking to them, it can distance them from the argument. Using too many quotes can also harm your credibility, as it can lead viewers to think that you aren't versed in the subject enough to be able to argue on your own.

The worst thing that can happen with quotes is that they can be misattributed or taken out of context. Misattributing a quote can happen accidentally, a lot of quotes that are supposedly from Mark Twain (including the one above) aren't actually from him. But what's the big deal right? A quote is a quote, does it really matter who we say it's from?

Absolutely. The thing is, misusing quotes is deceitful. When the viewer sees a name that they recognize, with a quote that's supposedly from that person, that quote automatically holds more weight. Now that weight can go both ways, if it's a person that the viewer hates, then the viewer will instinctively distance themselves from the argument (which could be argued why you shouldn't use quotes from controversial people or celebrities).

^{I think this answer could be improved. See: [Why is my answer being Down-Voted or Ignored?](http://meta.pets.stackexchange.com/a/780/481\)}

Block of Quotes

"While quotes are fun, they can be misused and misattributed." - Mark Twain

One thing you have to consider as a writer, is how the viewer is directed through your answer. All writing should have a clear direction, a path from the beginning to the end, and when writing you should do your best to keep the viewer from straying from the path.

Every time you add a quote to your answer, you're asking the viewer to take a step off the path you're setting, and listen to part of another person's argument. If the quote is not carefully selected, or even too long. The viewer might not return to your argument with the same mindset as when they "stepped off".

Misuse of Quotes

"While quotes are fun, they can be misused and misattributed." - Mark Twain

One thing you have to consider as a writer, is how the viewer is directed through your answer. All writing should have a clear direction, a path from the beginning to the end, and when writing you should do your best to keep the viewer from straying from the path.

Every time you add a quote to your answer, you're asking the viewer to take a step off the path you're setting, and listen to part of another person's argument. If the quote is not carefully selected, or even too long. The viewer might not return to your argument with the same mindset as when they "stepped off".

This is why it can be bad if too many quotes are used in an answer, if the viewer doesn't know who's speaking to them, it can distance them from the argument. Using too many quotes can also harm your credibility, as it can lead viewers to think that you aren't versed in the subject enough to be able to argue on your own.