Where observation is concerned, chance favours only the prepared mind.
Address given on the inauguration of the Faculty of Science, University of Lille, 7 December 1854.
Il n’existe pas de sciences appliquèes, mais seulement des applications de la science.
There are no such things as applied sciences, only applications of science.
Address, 11 September 1872, in ‘Comptes rendus des travaux du Congrés viticole et sèricicole de Lyon, 9-14 septembre 1872’ p. 49
4.20 Walter Pater 1839-94
Hers is the head upon which all ‘the ends of the world are come’, and the eyelids are a little weary.
On the Mona Lisa in ‘Studies in the History of the Renaissance’ (1873) ‘Leonardo da Vinci’.
She [the Mona Lisa] is older than the rocks among which she sits; like the vampire, she has been dead many times, and learned the secrets of the grave; and has been a diver in deep seas, and keeps their fallen day about her; and trafficked for strange webs with Eastern merchants: and, as Leda, was the mother of Helen of Troy, and as Saint Anne, the mother of Mary; and all this has been to her but as the sound of lyres and flutes, and lives only in the delicacy with which it has moulded the changing lineaments, and tinged the eyelids and the hands.
‘Studies in the History of the Renaissance’ (1873) ‘Leonardo da Vinci’
All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music.
‘Studies in the History of the Renaissance’ (1873) ‘The School of Giorgione’
To burn always with this hard, gemlike flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life.
‘Studies in the History of the Renaissance’ (1873) ‘Conclusion’
Not to discriminate every moment some passionate attitude in those about us, and in the brilliance of their gifts some tragic dividing of forces on their ways is, on this short day of frost and sun, to sleep before evening.
‘Studies in the History of the Renaissance’ (1873) ‘Conclusion’
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Under the shade of a coolibah tree;
And he sang as he watched and waited till his ‘Billy’ boiled: ‘You’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me.’
‘Waltzing Matilda’ (1903 song)
4.22 Coventry Patmore 1823-96
Well, Heaven be thanked my first-love failed, As, Heaven be thanked, our first-loves do! Thought I, when Fanny past me sailed, Loved once, for what I never knew.
‘The County Ball’
Her ball-dress seemed a breathing mist, From the fair form exhaled and shed, Raised in the dance with arm and wrist All warmth and light unbraceleted.
‘The County Ball’
Ah, none but I discerned her looks, When in the throng she passed me by, For love is like a ghost, and brooks Only the chosen seer’s eye.
‘The County Ball’
Hope’s self, when we were far apart, With lonely feeling, like the smell
Of heath on mountains, filled my heart. To see her seemed delight’s full scope, And her kind smile, so clear of care, Even then, though darkening all my hope, Gilded the cloud of my despair.
‘Sahara’
Kind souls, you wonder why, love you, When you, you wonder why, love none. We love, Fool, for the good we do, Not that which unto us is done!
‘A Riddle Solved’ in ‘The Angel in the House’ (1854-62) bk. 1, canto 6, prelude 4 (1904 ed.)
I drew my bride, beneath the moon, Across my threshold; happy hour! But, ah, the walk that afternoon We saw the water-flags in flower!
‘The Spirit’s Epochs’ in ‘The Angel in the House’ (1854-62) bk. 1, canto 8, prelude 3 (1904 ed.)
‘I saw you take his kiss!’ ‘’Tis true.’ ‘O modesty!’ ‘’Twas strictly kept: He thought me asleep; at least, I knew
He thought I thought he thought I slept.’
‘The Kiss’ (1856)
Some dish more sharply spiced than this Milk-soup men call domestic bliss.
‘Olympus’, l. 15
So, till to-morrow eve, my Own, adieu! Parting’s well-paid with soon again to meet, Soon in your arms to feel so small and sweet, Sweet to myself that am so sweet to you!
‘The Azalea’ in ‘The Unknown Eros’ (1877) bk. 1
With all my will, but much against my heart, We two now part.
My Very Dear,
Our solace is, the sad road lies so clear. It needs no art,
With faint, averted feet And many a tear,
In our opposed paths to persevere.
‘A Farewell’ in ‘The Unknown Eros’ (1877) bk. 1
He that but once too nearly hears The music of forfended spheres Is thenceforth lonely, and for all
His days as one who treads the Wall Of China, and, on this hand, sees Cities and their civilities
And, on the other, lions.
‘From Mrs. Graham’ in ‘The Victories of Love’ bk. 1
4.23 Alan Paton 1903—
Cry, the beloved country.
Title of novel (1948)
4.24 Mark Pattison 1813-84
In research the horizon recedes as we advance, and is no nearer at sixty than it was at twenty. As the power of endurance weakens with age, the urgency of the pursuit grows more intense...
And research is always incomplete.
‘Isaac Casaubon’ (1875) ch. 10
4.25 Leslie Paul 1905—
Angry young man.
Title of book (1951)
4.26 James Payn 1830-98
I had never had a piece of toast Particularly long and wide, But fell upon the sanded floor,
And always on the buttered side.
‘Chambers’s Journal’ 2 February 1884.
4.27 J. H. Payne 1791-1852
Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home; A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there,
Which, seek through the world, is ne’er met with elsewhere. Home, home, sweet, sweet home!
There’s no place like home! there’s no place like home!
‘Clari, or, The Maid of Milan’ (1823 opera) ‘Home, Sweet Home’
4.28 Thomas Love Peacock 1785-1866
Ancient sculpture is the true school of modesty. But where the Greeks had modesty, we have cant; where they had poetry, we have cant; where they had patriotism, we have cant; where they had anything that exalts, delights, or adorns humanity, we have nothing but cant, cant, cant.
‘Crotchet Castle’ (1831) ch. 7
A book that furnishes no quotations is, me judice, no book—it is a plaything.
‘Crotchet Castle’ (1831) ch. 9
The march of mind has marched in through my back parlour shutters, and out again with my silver spoons, in the dead of night. The policeman, who was sent down to examine, says my house has been broken open on the most scientific principles.
‘Crotchet Castle’ (1831) ch. 17
A Sympathizer would seem to imply a certain degree of benevolent feeling. Nothing of the kind. It signifies a ready-made accomplice in any species of political villainy.
‘Gryll Grange’ (1861) ch. 1
Marriage may often be a stormy lake, but celibacy is almost always a muddy horsepond.
‘Melincourt’ (1817)
Laughter is pleasant, but the exertion is too much for me.
‘Nightmare Abbey’ (1818) ch. 5
Sir, I have quarrelled with my wife; and a man who has quarrelled with his wife is absolved from all duty to his country.
‘Nightmare Abbey’ (1818) ch. 11
Long night succeeds thy little day Oh blighted blossom! can it be, That this gray stone and grassy clay
Have closed our anxious care of thee?
‘Epitaph on his Daughter’ in Henry Cole (ed.) ‘The Works of Peacock’ (1875) Biographical Notice by E. Nicolls
But though first love’s impassioned blindness Has passed away in colder light,
I still have thought of you with kindness, And shall do, till our last good-night. The ever-rolling silent hours
Will bring a time we shall not know, When our young days of gathering flowers Will be an hundred years ago.
‘Love and Age’ (1860)
4.29 Norman Vincent Peale 1898—
The power of positive thinking.
Title of book (1952)
4.30 Hesketh Pearson 1887-1964
Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the learned. A widely-read man never quotes accurately, for the rather obvious reason that he has read too widely.
‘Common Misquotations’ (1934) introduction
There is no stronger craving in the world than that of the rich for titles, except perhaps that of the titled for riches.
‘The Pilgrim Daughters’ (1961) ch. 6
4.31 Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil (Pedro IV of Portugal) 1798-1834
Como è para o bem de todos e a felicidade geral da naçáo, estou pronto. Diga ao povo que fico.
As it is for the good of all and the general happiness of the nation, I am ready and willing. Tell
the people I’m staying.
In response to a popular delegation, and in defiance of a decree from Lisbon requiring his return, 9 September 1822; commonly rendered ‘Fico [I’m staying]’
4.32 Sir Robert Peel 1788-1850
I may be a Tory. I may be an illiberal—but...Tory as I am, I have the further satisfaction of knowing that there is not a single law connected with my name which has not had as its object some mitigation of the criminal law; some prevention of abuse in the exercise of it; or some security for its impartial administration.
House of Commons, 1 May 1827
4.33 George Peele c.1556-96
Fair and fair, and twice so fair, As fair as any may be;
The fairest shepherd on our green, A love for any lady.
‘The Arraignment of Paris’ (1584) act 1, sc. 5 ‘Song of Oenone and Paris’
What thing is love for (well I wot) love is a thing. It is a prick, it is a sting,
It is a pretty, pretty thing; It is a fire, it is a coal
Whose flame creeps in at every hole.
‘The Hunting of Cupid’ (c.1591)
When as the rye reach to the chin,
And chopcherry, chopcherry ripe within, Strawberries swimming in the cream, And schoolboys playing in the stream, Then O, then O, then O, my true love said, Till that time come again,
She could not live a maid.
‘The Old Wive’s Tale’ (1595) l. 75 ‘Song’
His golden locks time hath to silver turned; O time too swift, O swiftness never ceasing!
His youth ’gainst time and age hath ever spurned But spurned in vain; youth waneth by increasing: Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen; Duty, faith, love, are roots, and ever green.
His helmet now shall make a hive for bees,
And, lovers’ sonnets turned to holy psalms,
A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees,
And feed on prayers, which are age his alms:
But though from court to cottage he depart,
His saint is sure of his unspotted heart...
Goddess, allow this aged man his right,
To be your beadsman now that was your knight.
‘Polyhymnia’ (1590) ad fin. ‘Sonnet’
4.34 Charles Pèguy 1873-1914
Qui ne gueule pas la vèritè, quand il sait la vèritè, se fait le complice des menteurs et des faussaires.
He who does not bellow the truth when he knows the truth makes himself the accomplice of
liars and forgers.
‘Lettre du Provincial’ 21 December 1899, in ‘Basic Verities’ (1943) p. 46
La tyrannie est toujours mieux organisèe que la libertè.
Tyranny is always better organised than freedom.
‘Basic Verities’ (1943) ‘War and Peace’.
4.35 1st Earl of Pembroke c.1501-70
Out ye whores, to work, to work, ye whores, go spin.
In Andrew Clark (ed.) ‘Brief Lives’...by John Aubrey (1898) vol. 1 ‘William Herbert, 1st earl of Pembroke’ (commonly quoted as ‘Go spin, you jades, go spin’).
4.36 2nd Earl of Pembroke c.1534-1601
A parliament can do any thing but make a man a woman, and a woman a man.
Quoted by his son, the 4th Earl, in a speech on 11 April 1648, proving himself Chancellor of Oxford; in ‘The Harleian Miscellany’ (1745) vol. 5, p. 106
4.37 10th Earl of Pembroke 1734-94
Dr Johnson’s sayings would not appear so extraordinary, were it not for his bow-wow way.
In James Boswell ‘The Life of Samuel Johnson’ (1934 ed.) 27 March 1775, note
4.38 Vladimir Peniakoff 1897-1951
A message came on the wireless for me. It said: ‘spread alarm and despondency’. So the time had come, I thought, Eighth Army was taking the offensive. The date was, I think, May 18th, 1942.
‘Private Army’ (1950) pt. 2, ch. 5. See Army Act 42 & 43 Vict. 33, sect. 5 (1879): ‘Every person subject to military law who...spreads reports calculated to create unnecessary alarm or despondency...shall...be liable to suffer penal servitude’
4.39 William Penn 1644-1718
No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.
‘No Cross, No Crown’ (1669 pamphlet)
It is a reproach to religion and government to suffer so much poverty and excess.
‘Some Fruits of Solitude’ pt. 1, no. 52
Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.
‘Some Fruits of Solitude’ pt. 1, no. 85
The taking of a bribe or gratuity, should be punished with as severe penalties as the defrauding of the State.
‘Some Fruits of Solitude’ pt. 1, no. 384
4.40 William H. Penn
See Albert H. Fitz (6.31) in Volume I
4.41 Samuel Pepys 1633-1703
Strange the difference of men’s talk!
‘Diary’ 4 January 1660
I sat up till the bell-man came by with his bell just under my window as I was writing of this very line, and cried, ‘Past one of the clock, and a cold, frosty, windy morning.’
‘Diary’ 16 January 1660
And so to bed.
‘Diary’ 20 April 1660
I went out to Charing Cross, to see Major-general Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered;
which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could do in that condition.
‘Diary’ 13 October 1660
A good honest and painful sermon.
‘Diary’ 17 March 1661
If ever I was foxed it was now.
‘Diary’ 23 April 1661
But methought it lessened my esteem of a king, that he should not be able to command the rain.
‘Diary’ 19 July 1662
I see it is impossible for the King to have things done as cheap as other men.
‘Diary’ 21 July 1662
But Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen, that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at everything that looks strange.
‘Diary’ 27 November 1662
My wife, who, poor wretch, is troubled with her lonely life.
‘Diary’ 19 December 1662
A woman sober, and no high flyer, as he calls it.
‘Diary’ 27 May 1663
Most of their discourse was about hunting, in a dialect I understand very little.
‘Diary’ 22 November 1663
While we were talking came by several poor creatures carried by, by constables, for being at a conventicle...I would to God they would either conform, or be more wise, and not be catched!
‘Diary’ 7 August 1664
Pretty witty Nell. ‘Diary’ 3 April 1665 (of Nell Gwynne)
Strange to see how a good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody.
‘Diary’ 9 November 1665
Strange to say what delight we married people have to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition.
‘Diary’ 25 December 1665
Music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is.
‘Diary’ 9 March 1666
But it is pretty to see what money will do.
‘Diary’ 21 March 1667
This day my wife made it appear to me that my late entertainment this week cost me above £12, an expense which I am almost ashamed of, though it is but once in a great while, and is the end for which, in the most part, we live, to have such a merry day once or twice in a man’s life.
‘Diary’ 6 March 1669
And so I betake myself to that course, which is almost as much as to see myself go into my grave—for which, and all the discomforts that will accompany my being blind, the good God prepare me!
‘Diary’ 31 May 1669, closing words
4.42 S. J. Perelman 1904-79
Crazy like a fox.
Title of book (1944)
4.43 Pericles c.495-429 B.C.
Our love of what is beautiful does not lead to extravagance; our love of the things of the mind does not make us soft.
Funeral Oration, Athens, 430 B.C., in Thucydides ‘History of the Peloponnesian War’ ii.40, 1 (translation by Rex Warner)
For famous men have the whole earth as their memorial.
In Thucydides ‘History of the Peloponnesian War’ ii.43, 3 (translation by Rex Warner)
Your great glory is not to be inferior to what God has made you, and the greatest glory of a woman is to be least talked about by men, whether they are praising you or criticizing you.
In Thucydides ‘History of the Peloponnesian War’ ii.45, 2 (translation by Rex Warner)
4.44 Charles Perrault 1628-1703
‘Anne, ma soeur Anne, ne vois-tu rien venir?’
Et la soeur Anne lui rèpondit, ‘Je ne vois rien que le soleil qui poudroye, et l’herbe qui verdoye.’
‘Anne, sister Anne, do you see nothing coming?’
And her sister Anne replied, ‘I see nothing but the sun making a dust, and the grass looking
green.’
‘Histoires et contes du temps passè’ (1697) ‘La barbe bleue’
4.45 Jimmy Perry and Derek Taverner
Who do you think you are kidding Mister Hitler?
Title of song (1971)
4.46 Persius (Aulus Persius Flaccus) A.D. 34-62
Nec te quaesiveris extra.
And don’t consult anyone’s opinions but your own.
‘Satires’ no. 1, l. 7
Virtutem videant intabescantque relicta.
Let them recognize virtue and rot for having lost it.
‘Satires’ no. 3, l. 38
Venienti occurrite morbo.
Confront disease at its onset.
‘Satires’ no. 3, l. 64.
Tecum habita: noris quam sit tibi curta supellex.
Live with yourself: get to know how poorly furnished you are.
‘Satires’ no. 4, l. 52
4.47 Marshal Pètain (Henri Philippe Pètain) 1856-1951
To write one’s memoirs is to speak ill of everybody except oneself.
In ‘Observer’ 26 May 1946
4.48 Laurence Peter 1919—and Raymond Hull
In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.
‘The Peter Principle’ (1969) ch. 1
4.49 Petronius (Petronius Arbiter) d. A.D. 65
Canis ingens, catena vinctus, in pariete erat pictus superque quadrata littera scriptum ‘Cave canem.’
A huge dog, tied by a chain, was painted on the wall and over it was written in capital letters
‘Beware of the dog.’
‘Satyricon’ ‘Cena Trimalchionis’ ch. 29, sect. 1
Abiit ad plures.
He’s gone to join the majority [the dead].
‘Satyricon’ ‘Cena Trimalchionis’ ch. 42, sect. 5
Nam Sibyllam quidem Cumis ego ipse oculis meis vidi in ampulla pendere, et cum illi pueri dicerent: ‘Σιβυλλα τ• θ•λ•ισ’ respondebat illa ‘•ποθανε•ν θ•λω’.
‘I saw the Sibyl at Cumae’ (One said) ‘with mine own eye.
She hung in a cage, and read her rune To all the passers-by.
Said the boys, “What wouldst thou, Sibyl?”
She answered, “I would die.”’
‘Satyricon’ ‘Cena Trimalchionis’ ch. 48, sect. 8 (translation by D. G. Rossetti)
Horatii curiosa felicitas.
Horace’s careful felicity.
‘Satyricon’ ch. 118, sect. 5
Foeda est in coitu et brevis voluptas Et taedet Veneris statim peractae.
Delight of lust is gross and brief
And weariness treads on desire.
In A. Baehrens ‘Poetae Latinae Minores’ (1882) vol. 4, no. 101 (translated by Helen Waddell)
