Can you use other people's quotes in fiction?

[stugtank]

In context-a character in a short story I'm writing has a tattoo of a famous quote on her arm. Is this okay (without referencing the quote)?

Listen..as a published author this is not the kind of thing you need to waste your time on. If your story is published, then there are editors who deal with that kind of thing.

Carry on...write it as you want to. Forget these niggles...they're just trying to distract you.

I agree with Matt Dillon's Pants! There are gremlins in your head that will try to stop you writing and they try to make you focus on things that don't really matter. If need be, you can misquote it. There will always be a way around it, so don't worry, get your head down and carry on writing!