Who really said it
This sentence appears in Lisey’s Story (2006), but King credits Lon Chaney. QI finds an older related passage in Robert Bloch and no independent confirmation of Chaney’s remark.
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
For presentations
Disputed — copy with the correction
“No one loves a clown at midnight” — Used by Stephen King in Lisey’s Story (2006), where he credits Lon Chaney; original authorship of this exact sentence is unconfirmed.
The slide-ready mistake: crediting this to Stephen King. Use the credit shown above instead.
Can you use it?
Still under copyright (rights held by Stephen King and/or Scribner for the novel text). A short, credited quote is generally fine for talks, teaching, and internal decks; for commercial, published, or large-scale reuse, get permission.
Image direction — grounded in this quote’s real context; paste into your image tool
In context
Evoking the themes of doubt and mortality. Theme: "No one loves a clown at midnight". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "No one loves a clown at midnight". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
No one loves a clown at midnight.
Quote InvestigatorHow we verified this
The sentence is documented in a 2006 copyrighted novel, although its original authorship is unresolved. The short excerpt is used for verification; this does not adjudicate ownership of every earlier variant.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Fact-check
The book documents use, not proven invention.
King himself credits Chaney; QI cannot independently substantiate that earlier attribution. King’s note ↗
Explore
More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
Go further
Trusted places to keep pulling the thread — primary archives, fact-checks, and scholarship. We show how we used each one before you leave.
Documents King’s sentence, his Chaney credit, and the older related Bloch passage.
Confirms October 2006 publication and Scribner publisher.
Background on the author of the older related passage.
Background on the documented later user.
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The author
For writers & researchers
Lisey’s Story (2006); an acknowledged earlier clown saying. See the linked research; a primary edition of the displayed wording has not been independently confirmed.
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘No one loves a clown at midnight’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/no-one-loves-a-clown-at-midnight/