Добавил:
Опубликованный материал нарушает ваши авторские права? Сообщите нам.
Вуз: Предмет: Файл:

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

.pdf
Скачиваний:
241
Добавлен:
10.08.2013
Размер:
7.5 Mб
Скачать

‘Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog’

Brutes never meet in bloody fray, Nor cut each other’s throats, for pay.

‘Logicians Refuted’ l. 39

Our Garrick’s a salad; for in him we see Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree.

‘Retaliation’ (1774) l. 11.

Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining, And thought of convincing, while they thought of dining; Though equal to all things, for all things unfit,

Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit.

‘Retaliation’ (1774) l. 29 (on Edmund Burke)

Here lies David Garrick, describe me, who can, An abridgement of all that was pleasant in man.

‘Retaliation’ (1774) l. 93

On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting; ’Twas only that when he was off he was acting.

‘Retaliation’ (1774) l. 101 (on Garrick)

When they talked of their Raphaels, Correggios, and stuff, He shifted his trumpet, and only took snuff.

‘Retaliation’ (1774) l. 145 (on Reynolds)

Where’er I roam, whatever realms to see, My heart untravelled fondly turns to thee; Still to my brother turns with ceaseless pain,

And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.

‘The Traveller’ (1764) l. 7

Such is the patriot’s boast, where’er we roam, His first, best country ever is, at home.

‘The Traveller’ (1764) l. 73

Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, I see the lords of human kind pass by.

‘The Traveller’ (1764) l. 327

Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.

‘The Traveller’ (1764) l. 386

How small, of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure!

‘The Traveller’ (1764) l. 429

The true use of speech is not so much to express our wants as to conceal them.

‘Essays’ 5 ‘The Use of Language’

This same philosophy is a good horse in the stable, but an arrant jade on a journey.

‘The Good-Natured Man’ (1768) act 1

We must touch his weaknesses with a delicate hand. There are some faults so nearly allied to excellence, that we can scarce weed out the fault without eradicating the virtue.

‘The Good-Natured Man’ (1768) act 1

All his faults are such that one loves him still the better for them.

‘The Good-Natured Man’ (1768) act 1

Friendship is a disinterested commerce between equals; love, an abject intercourse between tyrants and slaves.

‘The Good-Natured Man’ (1768) act 1

Silence is become his mother tongue.

‘The Good-Natured Man’ (1768) act 2

You, that are going to be married, think things can never be done too fast; but we, that are old, and know what we are about, must elope methodically, madam.

‘The Good-Natured Man’ (1768) act 2

Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain,

With grammar, and nonsense, and learning, Good liquor, I stoutly maintain,

Gives genius a better discerning.

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ (1773) act 1, sc. 1, song

Is it one of my well-looking days, child? Am I in face to-day?

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ (1773) act 1

The very pink of perfection.

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ (1773) act 1

I’ll be with you in the squeezing of a lemon.

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ (1773) act 1

It’s a damned long, dark, boggy, dirty, dangerous way.

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ (1773) act 1

This is Liberty-Hall, gentlemen.

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ (1773) act 2

The first blow is half the battle.

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ (1773) act 2

Was there ever such a cross-grained brute?

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ (1773) act 3

I was ever of opinion, that the honest man who married and brought up a large family, did more service than he who continued single and only talked of population.

‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ (1766) ch. 1

I...chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well.

‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ (1766) ch. 1

All our adventures were by the fire-side, and all our migrations from the blue bed to the brown.

‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ (1766) ch. 1

The virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.

‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ (1766) ch. 5

It seemed to me pretty plain, that they had more of love than matrimony in them.

‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ (1766) ch. 16

When lovely woman stoops to folly And finds too late that men betray, What charm can soothe her melancholy, What art can wash her guilt away?

‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ (1764) ch. 29

There is no arguing with Johnson; for when his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it.

In James Boswell ‘The Life of Samuel Johnson’ (1934 ed.) 26 October 1769.

As I take my shoes from the shoemaker, and my coat from the tailor, so I take my religion from the priest.

In James Boswell ‘The Life of Samuel Johnson’ (1934 ed.) 9 April 1773

7.63 Barry Goldwater 1909—

I would remind you that extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice!

And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!

Speech accepting the presidential nomination, 16 July 1964, in ‘New York Times’ 17 July 1964, p. 1

7.64 Sam Goldwyn (Samuel Goldfish) 1882-1974

Gentlemen, include me out.

Said on resigning from the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, October 1933, in Michael Freedland ‘The Goldwyn Touch’ (1986) ch. 10

A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it is written on.

In Alva Johnston ‘The Great Goldwyn’ (1937) ch. 1

That’s the way with these directors, they’re always biting the hand that lays the golden egg.

In Alva Johnston ‘The Great Goldwyn’ (1937) ch. 1

Pictures are for entertainment, messages should be delivered by Western Union.

In Arthur Marx ‘Goldwyn’ (1976) ch. 15

Any man who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined.

In Norman Zierold ‘Moguls’ (1969) ch. 3

Why should people go out and pay to see bad movies when they can stay at home and see bad television for nothing?

In ‘Observer’ 9 September 1956

7.65 Adam Lindsay Gordon 1833-70

Life is mostly froth and bubble,

Two things stand like stone, Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.

‘Ye Wearie Wayfarer’ ‘Fytte 8’

7.66 Mack Gordon 1904-59

Pardon me boy is that the Chattanooga Choo-choo, Track twenty nine,

Boy you can gimme a shine.

I can afford to board a Chattanooga Choo-choo, I’ve got my fare and just a trifle to spare.

You leave the Pennsylvania station ’bout a quarter to four, Read a magazine and then you’re in Baltimore,

Dinner in the diner nothing could be finer Than to have your ham’n eggs in Carolina.

‘Chattanooga Choo-choo’ (1941 song)

7.67 Stuart Gorrell 1902-63

Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find,

Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

‘Georgia on my Mind’ (1930 song; music by Hoagy Carmichael)

7.68 Lord Goschen 1831-1907

I have the courage of my opinions, but I have not the temerity to give a political blank cheque to Lord Salisbury.

Speech, ‘Hansard’ 19 February 1884, col. 1420

7.69 Sir Edmund Gosse 1849-1928

A sheep in sheep’s clothing.

Of the ‘woolly-bearded poet’ Sturge Moore, in F. Greenslet ‘Under the Bridge’ (1943) ch. 10.

7.70 Dean Goulburn 1818-97

Let the scintillations of your wit be like the coruscations of summer lightning, lambent but innocuous.

Sermon at Rugby School, in W. Tuckwell ‘Reminiscences of Oxford’ (2nd ed., 1907) p. 272

7.71 John Gower c.1330-1408

It hath and schal ben evermor That love is maister wher he wile.

‘Confessio Amantis’ (1386-90) prologue, l. 34

7.72 Sir Ernest Gowers 1880-1966

It is not easy nowadays to remember anything so contrary to all appearances as that officials are the servants of the public; and the official must try not to foster the illusion that it is the other way round.

‘Plain Words’ ch. 3

We are all esquires now, and we are none of us gentlemen any more.

In ‘Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage’ (2nd ed., 1965)

7.73 Francisco Josè de Goya y Lucientes 1746-1828

El sueño de la razón produce monstruos.

The dream of reason produces monsters.

7.74 Clementina Stirling Graham 1782-1877

The best way to get the better of temptation is just to yield to it.

‘Mystifications’ (1859) ‘Soirèe at Mrs Russel’s’

7.75 D. M. Graham 1911—

That this House will in no circumstances fight for its King and Country.

Motion worded by Graham for debate at the Oxford Union, of which he was Librarian, 9 February 1933 (passed by 275 votes to 153)

7.76 Harry Graham 1874-1936

Weep not for little Lèonie Abducted by a French Marquis! Though loss of honour was a wrench

Just think how it’s improved her French.

‘More Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes’ (1930) ‘Compensation’

O’er the rugged mountain’s brow Clara threw the twins she nursed, And remarked, ‘I wonder now Which will reach the bottom first?’

‘Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes’ (1899) ‘Calculating Clara’

Aunt Jane observed, the second time She tumbled off a bus,

‘The step is short from the Sublime To the Ridiculous.’

‘Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes’ (1899) ‘Equanimity’.

‘There’s been an accident,’ they said, ‘Your servant’s cut in half; he’s dead!’ ‘Indeed!’ said Mr Jones, ‘and please,

Send me the half that’s got my keys.’

‘Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes’ (1899) ‘Mr Jones’ (poem attributed to ‘G.W.’)

Billy, in one of his nice new sashes, Fell in the fire and was burnt to ashes; Now, although the room grows chilly, I haven’t the heart to poke poor Billy.

‘Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes’ (1899) ‘Tender-Heartedness’

7.77 James Graham, Marquis of Montrose 1612-50

Great, Good and Just, could I but rate My grief to thy too rigid fate!

‘Epitaph on King Charles I’

Let them bestow on every airth a limb; Then open all my veins, that I may swim To thee, my Maker! in that crimson lake;

Then place my parboiled head upon a stake— Scatter my ashes—strew them in the air;—

Lord! since thou know’st where all these atoms are, I’m hopeful thou’lt recover once my dust,

And confident thou’lt raise me with the just.

‘Lines written on the Window of his Jail the Night before his Execution’

He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small,

That puts it not unto the touch To win or lose it all.

‘My Dear and Only Love’

But if thou wilt be constant then, And faithful of thy word,

I’ll make thee glorious by my pen, And famous by my sword.

‘My Dear and Only Love’

7.78 Kenneth Grahame 1859-1932

The curate faced the laurels—hesitatingly. But Aunt Maria flung herself on him. ‘O Mr Hodgitts!’ I heard her cry, ‘you are brave! for my sake do not be rash!’ He was not rash.

‘The Golden Age’ (1895) ‘The Burglars’

Monkeys...very sensibly refrain from speech, lest they should be set to earn their livings.

‘The Golden Age’ (1895) ‘Lusisti Satis’

There is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

‘The Wind in the Willows’ (1908) ch. 1

The poetry of motion! The real way to travel! The only way to travel! Here today—in next week tomorrow! Villages skipped, towns and cities jumped—always somebody else’s horizon!

‘The Wind in the Willows’ (1908) ch. 2.

7.79 James Grainger c.1721-66

What is fame? an empty bubble; Gold? a transient, shining trouble.

‘Solitude’ l. 96

Knock off the chains

Of heart-debasing slavery; give to man, Of every colour and of every clime,

Freedom, which stamps him image of his God.

‘The Sugar Cane’ (1764) bk. 4

7.80 Ulysses S. Grant 1822-85

No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.

To Simon Bolivar Buckner, whom he was besieging in Fort Donelson, 16 February 1862, in P. C. Headley ‘The Life and Campaigns of General U. S. Grant’ (1869) ch. 6

I purpose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer.

Dispatch to Washington, from head-quarters in the field, 11 May 1864, in P. C. Headley ‘The Life and Campaigns of General U. S. Grant’ (1869) ch. 23

Let us have peace.

Letter to General Joseph R. Hawkey, 29 May 1868, accepting nomination for the presidency, in P. C. Headley ‘The Life and Campaigns of General U. S. Grant’ (1869) ch. 29

I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution.

Inaugural Address, 4 March 1869, in P. C. Headley ‘The Life and Campaigns of General U. S. Grant’ (1869) ch. 29

Let no guilty man escape, if it can be avoided...No personal considerations should stand in the way of performing a public duty.

Indorsement of a letter relating to the Whiskey Ring, 29 July 1875

7.81 George Granville, Baron Lansdowne 1666-1735

I’ll be this abject thing no more; Love, give me back my heart again.

‘Adieu l’Amour’

Bright as the day, and like the morning, fair, Such Cloe is...and common as the air.

‘Cloe’

Of all pains, the greatest pain Is to love, and love in vain.

‘The happiest mortals once we were’

Cowards in scarlet pass for men of war.

‘The She Gallants’ (1696) act 5

7.82 John Woodcock Graves 1795-1886

D’ye ken John Peel with his coat so gray? D’ye ken John Peel at the break of the day? D’ye ken John Peel when he’s far far away With his hounds and his horn in the morning?

’Twas the sound of his horn called me from my bed, And the cry of his hounds has me oft-times led;

For Peel’s view-hollo would waken the dead, Or a fox from his lair in the morning.

‘John Peel’ (1820)

7.83 Robert Graves 1895-1985

Children are dumb to say how hot the day is, How hot the scent is of the summer rose.

‘The Cool Web’ (1927)

There’s a cool web of language winds us in, Retreat from too much joy or too much fear.

‘The Cool Web’ (1927)

Counting the beats,

Counting the slow heart beats,

The bleeding to death of time in slow heart beats, Wakeful they lie.

‘Counting the Beats’ (1951)

His eyes are quickened so with grief, He can watch a grass or leaf

Every instant grow; he can Clearly through a flint wall see, Or watch the startled spirit flee From the throat of a dead man.

‘Lost Love’ (1921)

Truth-loving Persians do not dwell upon The trivial skirmish fought near Marathon.

‘The Persian Version’

As you are woman, so be lovely:

As you are lovely, so be various, Merciful as constant, constant as various, So be mine, as I yours for ever.

‘Pygmalion to Galatea’ (1927)

Far away is close at hand Close joined is far away,

Love shall come at your command Yet will not stay.

‘Song of Contrariety’ (1923)

To evoke posterity

Is to weep on your own grave, Ventriloquizing for the unborn.

‘To Evoke Posterity’

Goodbye to all that.

Title of autobiography (1929)

7.84 John Chipman Gray 1839-1915

Dirt is only matter out of place; and what is a blot on the escutcheon of the Common Law may be a jewel in the crown of the Social Republic.

‘Restraints on the Alienation of Property’ (2nd ed., 1895) preface

7.85 Patrick, Sixth Lord Gray d. 1612

A dead woman bites not.

Oral tradition, Gray being said to have advocated the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1587 with the words ‘Mortui non mordent’: J. B. Black ‘The Reign of Elizabeth 1558-1603’ (1936) ch. 10. ‘Dead men do not bite’ is based on Plutarch ‘Parallel Lives’ ‘Pompey’ sect. 77

7.86 Thomas Gray 1716-71

Ruin seize thee, ruthless King! Confusion on thy banners wait,

Tho’ fanned by Conquest’s crimson wing They mock the air with idle state.

‘The Bard’ (1757) l. 1

Loose his beard, and hoary hair

Stream’d, like a meteor, to the troubled air.

‘The Bard’ (1757) l. 19.

Weave the warp, and weave the woof, The winding-sheet of Edward’s race. Give ample room, and verge enough The characters of hell to trace.

‘The Bard’ (1757) l. 49

Fair laughs the morn, and soft the zephyr blows, While proudly riding o’er the azure realm

In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes;

Youth on the prow, and Pleasure at the helm; Regardless of the sweeping whirlwind’s sway,

That, hushed in grim repose, expects his evening prey.

‘The Bard’ (1757) l. 71

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd wind slowly o’er the lea,

The ploughman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

Now fades the glimering landscape on the sight, And all the air a solemn stillness holds,

Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,

And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds.

‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ (1751) l. 1

Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow’r, The moping owl does to the moon complain.

‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ (1751) l. 9

Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree’s shade, Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,

The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.

The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn,

The swallow twitt’ring from the straw-built shed, The cock’s shrill clarion, or the echoing horn,

No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.

‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ (1751) l. 13

Let not ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the poor.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow’r, And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave, Awaits alike th’inevitable hour,

The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ (1751) l. 29

Can storied urn or animated bust

Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?

Соседние файлы в предмете Английский язык