Context

This is a misquote from William Cosgrove's play The Mourning Bride (1697).

At the opening of the William Cosgrove's 17th-century play, Almeria is in mourning after the death of her lover, Anselmo. The curtain opens to soft music playing and Almeria remarks, "Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast." Basically, she's trying to say that music has the ability to calm someone down in times of sadness and tragedy. Now that's power.

You'll notice, of course, that Congreve thought music was good at soothing a "breast" rather than a "beast." Folks get this one mixed up a whole lot. Probably because the words "breast" and "beast" sound a lot a like. Also, the idea of a "savage beast" makes a little more sense to our modern ears. When's the last time you heard someone talk about the condition of their breast? Naturally, Almeria is trying to tell you about the sadness in her untamed heart, not her boobs.

Where you've heard it

This quote is a music lovers dream. Hey, a good tune can sooth beasts and breasts alike.

Additional Notable References: 

• In 1947, the Peabody Awards used this misquote to describe the Boston Symphony Orchestra's achievements in calming the nation in troubled times.
• The three-headed beast, Cerberus, can be soothed by playing some music. Or so Harry Potter discovers.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

This misquote has a bit of a hoity-toity flair to it, but we can't fault you too much for appreciating music and all its charms.