def format_quote(
        phrase: str,
        author: str,
        padding: int
        ):
    """
    Format a phrase as a quotation with equal padding on both sides.

    The returned text has the form `"phrase" --- author`, preceded and
    followed by the requested number of spaces.

    Parameters:
    ----------
    phrase: str
        The phrase to be quoted.
    author: str
        The author of the phrase.
    padding: int
        The amount of space (number of characters) 
        before and after the quote.
    
    Returns:
    -------
    str
        The formatted quotation with equal padding on both sides.

    Example:
    --------
    >>> format_quote("To be or not to be", "Shakespeare", 10)
    '          "To be or not to be" --- Shakespeare          '
    """
    pass # ADD CODE HERE!