# Origin of a Quote **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 25, 1999, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860 "1999-08-25T06:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kethlak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@Kethlak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kethlak)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 1999, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/1 "1999-08-25T06:07:00Z")
Where did the quote “Of course you realize (or know), this means war” originate? Is it from Warner Bros, the Marx Bros, or was it historical somehow? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Iron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Big\_Iron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Iron)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 1999, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/2 "1999-08-25T06:56:00Z")
As far as I’m concerned, it’s Bugs Bunny. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 1999, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/3 "1999-08-25T07:06:00Z")
Same guy who said “those are fightin’ words.” ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 1999, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/4 "1999-08-25T15:34:00Z")
I believe it was Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) in “Duck Soup.” Bugs Bunny borrowed the line. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 1999, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/5 "1999-08-25T23:58:00Z")
Groucho was parodying an earlier, silent film on the Civil War. But I can’t remember the name, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![Hazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Hazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/6 "1999-08-27T05:57:00Z")
The phrase “silent movie about the civil war” brings to mind the movie “The Great Locomotive Chase” (Buster Keeton). I have no idea if anyone in this flic uttered the quote in question, however. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/7 "1999-08-27T13:41:00Z")
Hazel–the movie you’re thinking of is actually called “The General.” Daniel–it’s possible that this is a line from “Birth of a Nation”, but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/8 "1999-08-27T15:54:00Z")
Buster Keaton’s _The General_ is IMO the funniest movie ever made. But I don’t believe it is the source of this quote. The war is already well under way when the movie begins. I have a copy and will review it. Thanks for the excuse to watch it again. * * * “non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem” ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/9 "1999-08-27T15:56:00Z")
## p.s., If anybody cares, the movie is named after the locomotive, not a military officer. “non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem” ---
**Author:** ![Salquod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Salquod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salquod)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/10 "2026-02-03T03:05:00Z")
There were several references to war in Duck Soup but “Of course you know this means war!” was spoken by Groucho in A Night at the Opera. In Duck Soup, Louis Calhern said “This Means War!” ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-a-quote/2860/11 "2026-02-03T12:38:44Z")
[Here’s](https://www.google.com/search?q=%E2%80%9COf+course+you+know+this+means+war%21%E2%80%9D+in+what+scene+was+this+spoken+by+Groucho+in+A+Night+at+the+Opera&sca_esv=b88fcdf3d66975f7&ei=R-uBaYe6AsrZkPIPgLLTgAE&biw=1152&bih=606&aic=0&ved=0ahUKEwjH-bLCqr2SAxXKLEQIHQDZFBAQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=%E2%80%9COf+course+you+know+this+means+war%21%E2%80%9D+in+what+scene+was+this+spoken+by+Groucho+in+A+Night+at+the+Opera&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiaeKAnE9mIGNvdXJzZSB5b3Uga25vdyB0aGlzIG1lYW5zIHdhciHigJ0gaW4gd2hhdCBzY2VuZSB3YXMgdGhpcyBzcG9rZW4gYnkgR3JvdWNobyBpbiBBIE5pZ2h0IGF0IHRoZSBPcGVyYUgAUABYAHAAeAGQAQCYAQCgAQCqAQC4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgCgAgCYAwCSBwCgBwCyBwC4BwDCBwDIBwCACAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:50dfccfc,vid:BjIZwv5aENQ,st:0) the relevant Groucho clip, plus the Bugs Bunny version.