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If you're going to quote someone's words, even if you appropriately attribute the quote to the rightful owner, you should have their permission. Many commonly cited authors don't mind having their famous lines reused, but some do, so tread carefully. Always get legal advice, or if in doubt, leave it out.

Give the author of the material credit by " documenting" or " citing" your sources (terms which mean you credit your source). Give credit whenever you use a direct quote by placing it in quotation marks and giving the author credit.

Quotes from ancient sages, philosophers, and famous people who have since passed are a part of the public domain. This means that anyone may use these works without having to worry about intellectual property law issues.

Generally, if the person is famous and what you're writing is true, you don't need permission. But if the person is an ordinary non-celebrity, be cautious. If what you're writing is positive, they'll probably be delighted to be mentioned.

How about quotes or samples? If you use a copyrighted work without authorization, the owner may be entitled to bring an infringement action against you. There are circumstances under the fair use doctrine where a quote or a sample may be used without permission.

As a general guideline, if you're going to be quoting a lot of text, get permission. And if you're just quoting a single line but aren't certain it's okay to do it, get permission then too. You might think you don't need permission for short quotes from properly cited sources. But when in doubt, play it safe.