Is a Cliché phrase considered Plagiarism? (the author is dead more than 390 years ago.)

Question

Is it okay to use it in a writing piece or poem?

Should/will it be penalized or will you be given punishment if only used in 8th grade?

Thanks

Answer 1

If you use something someone else has said, then you must put it in quotation marks.

For instance, a cliche is "a stitch in time saves nine". I have no idea who the person was who said that first, but it is commonly used. You may use it in a poem or piece of writing in quotes.

Answer 2

"to be, or not to be, that is the question,"
was used in a poem

is that okay?

Answer 3

Yes, that is not a cliche, but so long as you use quotes around it, you are fine.

Answer 4

That particular quotation is from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

http://www.artofeurope.com/shakespeare/sha8.htm
Act 3, scene 1, lines 58+