Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Play ·190 of 348
"Music soothes the savage beast."
They never said that.
What people say
"Music soothes the savage beast."
What was actually said
"Music has charms to soothe a savage breast." Almeria — William Congreve, The Mourning Bride (1697)
Why it stuck
Congreve wrote "breast" (heart/soul). Ears heard "beast." The misreading has been stable for three centuries — nearly as old as the original.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.