How Much Quoting Is Too Much?

There are no official limits to quotation length, though any quotations that are more than four lines should be formatted as a separate block quote. However, it is generally better to paraphrase the sources you cite rather than use direct quotations.

Can you quote too much?

How much should I quote? ... If you include too much quotation in your essay, you will crowd out your own ideas. Consider quoting a passage from one of your sources if any of the following conditions holds: The language of the passage is particularly elegant or powerful or memorable.

Is quoting too much bad?

But many writers still quote too much and for the wrong reasons. Over-quoting can become a lifelong bad habit. ... You should quote when you want to amplify a source's point with additional support and new evidence. And you should certainly quote when you want to disagree with a source.