Before Bartlett's Familiar Quotations contained a contemporary quotation and prior to most other contemporary quotations books being published, the Dictionary of Contemporary Quotations began to record contemporary quotations which are historically, sociologically, and politically significant. It's purpose is to build a selection of quotations by contemporary persons based upon quotability as the primary criterion of selection. Prior to 1987, the Dictionary of Contemporary Quotations also recorded historical quotations not found in standard quotations sources.

Quotations are cited by both author and subject. Quotations include name of speaker and descriptive annotation if appropriate, quotation and explanatory amplification if necessary, and quotation source. In instances where a quotation appears in more than one source, the original source of publication is cited if it can be determined. Otherwise, the published source most widely available to users is used. Volume 11 is in preparation.

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