In a research project, you should treat direct quotations of a source with:

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Direct quotes must be presented exactly as they appear, with quotation marks, and paired with a proper citation. Quotation marks show that the words are taken verbatim from another source, preserving the original wording and punctuation so readers can see precisely what was stated. The citation then identifies where those words came from, giving credit to the author and providing a path for readers to locate the source themselves. This combination protects against plagiarism and strengthens the reliability and traceability of your work. Relying on discretion, treating public-domain material without citation, or thinking fair use eliminates the need for references all run counter to scholarly practice; even when something is in the public domain or falls under fair use, you still follow the appropriate citation standards to acknowledge authorship and enable verification. In short, always use quotation marks for direct quotes and include an appropriate citation in your chosen style, with the exact details required by that style.