But usually, i forget a line a day after i write it. people are like, i love how u wrote “….”
and i’m like “i wrote that? okay, which book, and when?”
i can’t quote my beginings. they change 2 much. i remember some quotes from Scott-la’s books
i love him. i am obsessed.
and other books i like, that were funny. but my own work… not so much, unless i have created a work of brilliance, which, sadly, doesn’t happen as often as i’d like

I acutally don’t know the opening to Uglies, but right now I don’t think I can quote anything. I am pretty sure most author’s don’t know their work. And honestly the first that came to my mind was about those who quote the Bible to prove a point about what they believe (which is, the Bible). That definitely does not work.

As for a professor (@32 Rachel) assigning his or her own work to students – yes, it’s a bit self-aggrandising if it is the only book assigned, but perfectly reasonable if part of a wider reading list looking from all angles. After all, if the prof has researched and been thinking about the specific issue for years, then a written distillation would be useful and appropriate. If, though, the prof reckons that his or her work is the be-all-and-end-all of the matter, then no doubt that tends to stifle critical thinking and alternative arguments from students relying on that prof for marks.

I guess it depends on what stands out to you and how good your memory is. I can memorize all the passwords I use on a ton of websites, but not my math homework.

Also, quoting yourself in a debate is a bit biased.
I mean, using yourself as backup?

I’m going to hope that’s because the burn lines are pithy and memorable, not because I’m good at being mean.

I can quote plenty of other people, just not ME. I guess I’m not memorable.

I do not think remembering bits of your work is unusual. Quoting your own work to support an argument makes their theory sound all lonley, though. Because wasn’t there anyone else whose work might support also it?

At one point, I could have recited the entire first chapter of Harry Potter 1 at the drop of a hat. Now I can only recite about the first three pages or so.

As to my own work, not so much. I remember snippets from the things I’m working on, and a few bits here and there from older stuff. I am pretty good at remembering the gist of a scene and describing it, but not word-for-word.

Sometimes I get deja vu while writing, and wonder if I have written that line before, or read it somewhere, or heard it from someone. Then I wonder if I’m a horrible writer who can’t even think of one original line. Then I wonder if I’m paranoid. Then I start to think the word “were” looks funny and I might be spelling it wrong. But that’s a separate issue.

I would never quote myself to make a point in an argument. That makes no sense. I might say something I have said before, if its an argument I have made before, but I would not use that as a reference to prove my point.

~Mary

But generally if I’m quoting myself, I’m doing so in a informal, personal space – in conversation with friends, or in my blog. Most of the time, I’ve quoting something no one else would recognise, and it’s not to prove a point, it’s because I feel I’ve already best put into words what I mean. (Or because that quote popped into my head and I feel like sharing it.) If I’m looking for evidence to back up myself, I’ll quote someone else.

“You did!” she said.

Kind of embarrassing.

However I can’t quote any of my prose without looking at it. So maybe it’s a poetry thing.

And I definitely think quoting oneself during a lecture or a talk is weird, unless one is giving a reading. I had an anthropology professor in college who had us read his book and then cited himself often in class – it just felt awkward.

“The victory moved the Shock into the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in six years. The Liberty were trying to reach the championship series for the first time since 2002.”

*ducks*

But then I realized I can do large chunks of “I honor you with my manhood,” etc. and gave the argument up as a lie.

Though, I don’t recognize that as my own work anymore (in a visceral sense, that is), so maybe not.

Anyway, once I write something down, I tend to think of it as “saved to off-site back-up” and it doesn’t need to stick around in my brain. I’m frequently delighted and surprised by myself, as a consequence. It’s really not a bad way to live one’s life.