Quotes and Authors

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Form pairs or small groups through an interactive mingling search and short introductory dialogue.

Use it when: Use at the start of a workshop or meeting when you need to break a group into pairs without arbitrary counting off.

Skip it when: Skip when group members cannot move freely around the room, or when time requires instant assigned pairings.

Group arrangement: Mingle in a full room, then converse in pairs (or trios if odd).

Timing: Source suggests 5 to 15 minutes. 10 minutes fits full matching, short pair conversations, and grouping.

Materials and tools

• Pre-cut paper slips with one quote or author name per slip (1 slip per person, paired in advance)
• Master reference sheet of quotes and authors for the facilitator

Before participants arrive

1. Select enough quote-and-author pairs to match participant count.
2. If there is an odd number of participants, add one extra quote matching an existing author to form a trio.
3. Print and cut slips into separate pieces, keeping matched pairs tracked on a master sheet.

Say this to open

Everyone will receive a slip of paper. Half of you have a quote, and the other half have an author or speaker. When I say go, walk around, talk to people, and find the person who holds your matching half. Once matched, stay together and answer this prompt: What was your first encounter with this person or their work, or what do you know about them? If neither of you knows them, discuss what the quote suggests to you.

How to run it

1. Distribute slips and explain task 2 minutes

   Hand one slip to each person face down. Read the opening script aloud. Answer any quick procedural questions before starting the mingling.

2. Mingle and pair up 4 minutes

   Participants circulate and talk to one another to find their match. Facilitator wanders with the master sheet to offer hints if anyone gets stuck or does not recognize a name.

3. Pair conversation 3 minutes

   Once matched, pairs step to the side. Each person shares their first memory, knowledge, or impression of the author or quote. If neither knows the author, they discuss their reaction to the quote.

4. Wrap-up and regroup 1 minutes

   Bring the room to attention. Confirm all pairs are matched. Instruct pairs to sit together as working partners for the next agenda item.

Debrief questions

• How did you and your partner confirm you were a match?
• What common ground or new fact came up when discussing your author?

Finished output: The room is divided into conversational pairs ready for subsequent group work.

Remote

Assign each participant a private direct message containing either a quote or an author name. Open the main room or small breakout rooms where people can ask each other what they have. When two participants find a match, they confirm via private message to the host, who places them into their own breakout room for a 3-minute chat.

Hybrid

Assign in-person participants paper slips and remote participants private chat prompts. Keep remote attendees pairing with remote attendees, and in-person pairing with in-person, to avoid communication delays during room mingling.

Access and participation choices

• Participants who prefer not to walk around can remain seated; the facilitator directs searching participants to visit seated members.
• If someone does not know the author, they may talk about the quote's literal meaning or pass on personal recollection without penalty.

If the session gets stuck

A participant does not recognize the author or quote on their slip.

Provide a quick hint from the master sheet, or tell them to read their text aloud so others can recognize it.

An odd number of participants attends.

Use one trio: two people receive different quotes from the same author, and one person receives that author slip.

Terms used here

• Master reference sheet: A private list kept by the facilitator showing all correct quote-author pairs for quick verification.