Attribution: Quoting a Fictional Character

Question

Famously:

"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."
-- Yoda

Thing is, this is from a movie. A writer wrote it and a voice actor spoke it. Is there a correct form of attribution for a case like this? If so, what?

I believe you can say: "Yoda, from Star Wars". You might add the year of release as well, in a more formal context. — J.R., Sep 13 '13 at 15:32
If you're speaking, one fairly common way to say it is: "As George Lucas's Yoda says ..." or "As Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan tells us before he blows up a plane.." Or similarly "As Princess Leia from Star Wars says..." or "As Roy Batty says in Bladerunner..." — Fattie, Aug 11 '14 at 07:13

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 13 '13 at 15:51

The author Robert Asprin famously sprinkles his books with quotations, many of which are fictitious. They're attributed in the form you show in your question:

"In times of crisis, it is of utmost importance not to lose one's head."

--M. Antoinette

"A little help at the right time is better than a lot of help at the wrong time."

--Tevye

Et cetera.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 13 '13 at 15:32

So "everyone" knows who Yoda is. But in a more formal context, or with a less well-known character or work, you might want to use something more like:

"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."
    -- Yoda, In Star Wars, George Lucas

or even

    -- Yoda [1]

[1] Proper reference to Star Wars.

Attribution: Quoting a Fictional Character

2 Answers2

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