The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

All the rest is mere fine writing.

‘L’art poètique’

Les sanglots longs Des violons

De l’automne Blessent mon coeur D’une langueur Monotone.

The drawn-out sobs of autumn’s violins wound my heart with a monotonous languor.

‘Chanson de l’automne’ (1866)

Et, ô ces voix d’enfants chantants dans la coupole!

And oh those children’s voices, singing beneath the dome!

‘Parsifal, A Jules Tellier’

10.17 Emperor Vespasian A.D. 9-79

Pecunia non olet.

Money has no smell.

Traditional summary of Suetonius ‘Vespasian’ 23, 3. Vespasian was answering Titus’s objection to his tax on public lavatories; holding a coin to Titus’s nose and being told it didn’t smell, he replied: Atque e lotio est Yes, that’s made from urine.

Vae, puto deus fio.

Woe is me, I think I am becoming a god.

When fatally ill, in Suetonius ‘Vespasian’ 23, 4

10.18 Queen Victoria 1819-1901

The Queen is most anxious to enlist every one who can speak or write to join in checking this mad, wicked folly of ‘Woman’s Rights’, with all its attendant horrors, on which her poor feeble sex is bent, forgetting every sense of womanly feeling and propriety. Lady—ought to get a good whipping. It is a subject which makes the Queen so furious that she cannot contain herself. God created men and women different—then let them remain each in their own position.

Letter to Sir Theodore Martin, 29 May 1870

The danger to the country, to Europe, to her vast Empire, which is involved in having all these great interests entrusted to the shaking hand of an old, wild, and incomprehensible man of 82, is very great!

On Gladstone’s last appointment as Prime Minister, in a letter to Lord Lansdowne, 12 August 1892

We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat; they do not exist.

To A. J. Balfour, in ‘Black Week’, December 1899

We are not amused.

Attributed, in ‘Notebooks of a Spinster Lady’ 2 January 1900

I will be good.

On being shown a chart of the line of succession for the first time, 11 March 1830, in Martin ‘The Prince Consort’ (1875) vol. 1, p. 13

Move Queen Anne? Most certainly not! Why it might some day be suggested that my statue should be moved, which I should much dislike.

When it was suggested that the statue of Queen Anne outside St. Paul’s should be moved, on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee in 1887. Duke of Portland ‘Men, Women and Things’ ch. 5

He [Mr Gladstone] speaks to Me as if I was a public meeting.

In G. W. E. Russell ‘Collections and Recollections’ (1898) ch. 14

10.19 Gore Vidal 1925—

American writers want to be not good but great; and so are neither.

‘Two Sisters’ (1970) p. 65

It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.

In G. Irvine ‘Antipanegyric for Tom Driberg’ 8 December 1976, p. 2

It is the spirit of the age to believe that any fact, no matter how suspect, is superior to any imaginative exercise, no matter how true.

‘French Letters: Theories of the New Novel’ in ‘Encounter’ December 1967

A triumph of the embalmer’s art.

Describing Ronald Reagan in ‘Observer’ 26 April 1981

I’m all for bringing back the birch, but only between consenting adults.

In ‘Sunday Times Magazine’ 16 September 1973

Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.

In ‘Sunday Times Magazine’ 16 September 1973

10.20 King Vidor 1895-1982

Take it from me, marriage isn’t a word...it’s a sentence!

‘The Crowd’ (1928 film)

10.21 Josè Antonio Viera Gallo 1943—

El socialismo puede llegar solo en bicicleta.

Socialism can only arrive by bicycle.

Said when Assistant Secretary of Justice in Chilean Government, in Ivan Illich ‘Energy and Equity’ (1974) p. 11

10.22 Alfred De Vigny 1797-1863

J’aime la majestè des souffrances humaines.

I love the majesty of human suffering.

‘La Maison du Berger’ (1844)

Seul le silence est grand; tout le reste est faiblesse...

Fais ènergiquement ta longue et lourde tâche...

Puis, aprés, comme moi, souffre et meurs sans parler.

Silence alone is great; all else is feebleness...

Perform with all your heart your long and heavy task...

Then as do I, say naught, but suffer and die.

‘La mort du loup’ (1838)

10.23 Philippe-Auguste Villiers De L’Isle-Adam 1838-89

Vivre? les serviteurs feront cela pour nous.

Living? The servants will do that for us.

‘Axël’ (1890) 4, sect. 2

10.24 François Villon b. 1431

Fréres humains qui aprés nous vivez, N’ayez les cuers contre nous endurcis, Car, se pitiè de nous povres avez, Dieu en aura plus tost de vous mercis...

Mais priez Dieu que tous nous veuille absouldre!

Brothers in humanity who live after us, let not your hearts be hardened against us, for, if you take pity on us poor ones, God will be more likely to have mercy on you. But pray God that he

may be willing to absolve us all.

‘Ballade des pendus’

Mais oû sont les neiges d’antan?

But where are the snows of yesteryear?

‘Ballade des dames du temps jadis’ from ‘Le Grand Testament’ (1461) (translation by D. G. Rossetti)

En ceste foy je veuil vivre et mourir.

In this faith I wish to live and to die.

‘Ballade pour prier Nostre Dame’ from ‘Le Grand Testament’ (1461)

10.25 St Vincent Of Lerins d. c.450

Quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus creditum est.

What is always, what is everywhere, what is by all people believed.

‘Commonitorium’ 2

10.26 Virgil (Publius Virgilius Maro) 70-19 B.C.

Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris Italiam fato profugus Laviniaque venit

Litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto

Vi superum, saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram.

I sing of arms and the man who first from the shores of Troy came destined an exile to Italy and the Lavinian beaches, much buffeted he on land and on the deep by force of the gods because

of fierce Juno’s never-forgetting anger.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 1

Tantaene animis caelestibus irae?

Why such great anger in those heavenly minds?

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 11

Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem.

So massive was the effort to found the Roman nation.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 33

Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto.

Odd figures swimming were glimpsed in the waste of waters.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 118

Constitit hic arcumque manu celerisque sagittas Corripuit fidus quae tela gerebat Achates.

Hereupon he stopped and took up in his hand a bow and swift arrows, the weapons that trusty

Achates carried.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 187

O passi graviora, dabit deus his quoque finem.

O you who have borne even heavier things, God will grant an end to these too.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 199

Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.

Maybe one day we shall be glad to remember even these things.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 203

Dux femina facti.

The leader of the enterprise a woman.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 364

Dixit et avertens rosea cervice refulsit, Ambrosiaeque comae divinum vertice odorem Spiravere; pedes vestis defluxit ad imos,

Et vera incessu patuit dea.

She said no more and as she turned away there was a bright glimpse of the rosy glow of her neck, and from her ambrosial head of hair a heavenly fragrance wafted; her dress flowed down

right to her feet, and in her walk it showed, she was in truth a goddess.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 402

‘En Priamus. Sunt hic etiam sua praemia laudi, Sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt. Solve metus; feret haec aliquam tibi fama salutem.’

Sic ait atque animum pictura pascit inani.

‘Look, there’s Priam! Even here prowess has its due rewards, there are tears shed for things even here and mortality touches the heart. Abandon your fears; I tell you, this fame will stand us

somehow in good stead.’ So he spoke, and fed his thoughts on the unreal painting.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 461

Di tibi, si qua pios respectant numina, si quid Usquam iustitiae est et mens sibi conscia recti, Praemia digna ferant.

Surely as the divine powers take note of the dutiful, surely as there is any justice anywhere and

a mind recognizing in itself what is right, may the gods bring you your earned rewards.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 603

Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco.

No stranger to trouble myself I am learning to care for the unhappy.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 1, l. 630

Infandum, regina, iubes renovare dolorem.

A grief too much to be told, O queen, you bid me renew.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 3

Quaeque ipse miserrima vidi Et quorum pars magna fui.

And the most miserable things which I myself saw and of which I was a major part.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 5

Equo ne credite, Teucri.

Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentis.

Do not trust the horse, Trojans. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 48

Crimine ab uno Disce omnis.

From the one crime recognize them all as culprits.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 65

Tacitae per amica silentia lunae.

Through the friendly silence of the soundless moonlight.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 255

Tempus erat quo prima quies mortalibus aegris Incipit et dono divum gratissima serpit.

It was the time when first sleep begins for weary mortals and by the gift of the gods creeps

over them most welcomely.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 268

Quantum mutatus ab illo

Hectore qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli.

How greatly changed from that Hector who comes home wearing the armour stripped from

Achilles!

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 274

Fuimus Troes, fuit Ilium et ingens Gloria Teucrorum.

We Trojans are at an end, Ilium has ended and the vast glory of the Teucrians.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 325

Moriamur et in media arma ruamus. Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem.

Let us die even as we rush into the midst of the battle. The only safe course for the defeated is

to expect no safety.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 353

Dis aliter visum.

The gods thought otherwise.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 428

Non tali auxilio nec defensoribus istis Tempus eget.

Now is not the hour that requires such help, nor those defenders.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 2, l. 521

Quid non mortalia pectora cogis, Auri sacra fames!

What do you not drive human hearts into, cursed craving for gold!

‘Aeneid’ bk. 3, l. 56

Monstrum horrendum, informe, ingens, cui lumen ademptum.

A monster horrendous, hideous and vast, deprived of sight.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 3, l. 658

Quis fallere possit amantem?

Who could deceive a lover?

‘Aeneid’ bk. 4, l. 296

Nec me meminisse pigebit Elissae

Dum memor ipse mei, dum spiritus hos regit artus.

Nor will it ever upset me to remember Elissa so long as I can remember who I am, so long as

the breath of life controls these limbs.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 4, l. 335 (Aeneas, of Dido)

Varium et mutabile semper Femina.

Fickle and changeable always is woman.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 4, l. 569 (‘A windfane changabil huf puffe / Always is a woomman’ in Richard Stanyhurst’s

translation, 1582)

Exoriare aliquis nostris ex ossibus ultor.

Arise, you avenger someone, from my bones.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 4, l. 625

Hos successus alit: possunt, quia posse videntur.

These success encourages: they can because they think they can.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 5, l. 231

Bella, horrida bella,

Et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno.

I see wars, horrible wars, and the Tiber foaming with much blood.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 86

Facilis descensus Averno:

Noctes atque dies patet atri ianua Ditis;

Sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras, Hoc opus, hic labor est.

Easy is the way down to the Underworld: by night and by day dark Dis’s door stands open; but

to withdraw one’s steps and to make a way out to the upper air, that’s the task, that is the labour.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 126

Procul, o procul este, profani.

Far off, Oh keep far off, you uninitiated ones.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 258

Ibant obscuri sola sub nocte per umbram Perque domos Ditis vacuas et inania regna.

Darkling they went under the lonely night through the shadow and through the empty

dwellings and unsubstantial realms of Dis.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 268

Vestibulum ante ipsum primisque in faucibus Orci Luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae, Pallentesque habitant Morbi tristisque Senectus, Et Metus et malesuada Fames ac turpis Egestas, Terribiles visu formae, Letumque Labosque.

Before the very forecourt and in the opening of the jaws of hell Grief and avenging Cares have placed their beds, and wan Diseases and sad Old Age live there, and Fear and Hunger that urges

to wrongdoing, and shaming Destitution, figures terrible to see, and Death and Toil.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 273

Stabant orantes primi transmittere cursum Tendebantque manus ripae ulterioris amore.

They stood begging to be the first to make the voyage over and they reached out their hands in

longing for the further shore.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 313

Inventas aut qui vitam excoluere per artis Quique sui memores aliquos fecere merendo: Omnibus his nivea cinguntur tempora vitta.

Or those who have improved life by the knowledge they have found out, and those who have made themselves remembered by some for their services: round the brows of all these is worn a

snow-white band.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 663

Spiritus intus alit, totamque infusa per artus Mens agitat molem et magno se corpore miscet.

The spirit within nourishes, and mind instilled throughout the living parts activates the whole

mass and mingles with the vast frame.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 726

Excudent alii spirantia mollius aera

(Credo equidem), vivos ducent de marmore vultus, Orabunt causas melius, caelique meatus Describent radio et surgentia sidera dicent:

Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento (Hae tibi erunt artes), pacique imponere morem, Parcere subiectis et debellare superbos.

Others shall shape bronzes more smoothly so that they seem alive (yes, I believe it), shall mould from marble living faces, shall better plead their cases in court, and shall demonstrate with a pointer the motions of the heavenly bodies and tell the stars as they rise: you, Roman, make your task to rule nations by your government (these shall be your skills), to impose ordered ways

upon a state of peace, to spare those who have submitted and to subdue the arrogant.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 847

Heu, miserande puer, si qua fata aspera rumpas, Tu Marcellus eris. Manibus date lilia plenis.

Alas, pitiable boy—if only you might break your cruel fate!—you are to be Marcellus. Give

me lilies in armfuls.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 882

Sunt geminae Somni portae, quarum altera fertur Cornea, qua veris facilis datur exitus umbris, Altera candenti perfecta nitens elephanto,

Sed falsa ad caelum mittunt insomnia Manes.

There are two gates of Sleep, one of which it is held is made of horn and by it real ghosts have easy egress; the other shining fashioned of gleaming white ivory, but deceptive are the visions the Underworld sends that way to the light.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 6, l. 893

Geniumque loci primamque deorum Tellurem Nymphasque et adhuc ignota precatur Flumina.

He prays to the spirit of the place and to Earth the first of the gods and to the Nymphs and as

yet unknown rivers.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 7, l. 136

Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.

If I am unable to make the gods above relent, I shall move Hell.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 7, l. 312

O mihi praeteritos referat si Iuppiter annos.

Oh if only Jupiter would give me back my past years.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 8, l. 560

Quadripedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum.

Hooves with a galloping sound are shaking the powdery plain.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 8, l. 596

Macte nova virtute, puer, sic itur ad astra.

Blessings on your young courage, boy; that’s the way to the stars.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 9, l. 641

Audentis Fortuna iuvat.

Fortune assists the bold.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 10, l. 284

Experto credite.

Trust one who has gone through it.

‘Aeneid’ bk. 11, l. 283

Tityre, tu patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi Silvestrem tenui Musam meditaris avena.

Tityrus, you who lie under cover of the spreading beech-tree, you are practising your pastoral

music on a thin stalk.

‘Eclogue’ no. 1, l. 1

O Meliboee, deus nobis haec otia fecit.

O Meliboeus, it is a god that has made this peaceful life for us.

‘Eclogue’ no. 1, l. 6

At nos hinc alii sitientis ibimus Afros,

Pars Scythiam et rapidum cretae veniemus Oaxen Et penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos.

But we from here are to go some to arid Africa, another group to Scythia and others of us shall come to the Oaxes swirling with clay, and amongst the Britons who are kept far away from the

whole world.

‘Eclogue’ no. 1, l. 64

Formosum pastor Corydon ardebat Alexin, Delicias domini, nec quid speraret habebat.

The shepherd Corydon was in hot love with handsome Alexis, his master’s favourite, but he

was not getting anything he hoped for.

‘Eclogue’ no. 2, l. 1

O formose puer, nimium ne crede colori.

O handsome lad, don’t trust too much in your complexion.

‘Eclogue’ no. 2, l. 17

Quem fugis, a! demens? Habitarunt di quoque silvas.

Ah, madman! Whom are you running away from? Gods too have lived in the woods.

‘Eclogue’ no. 2, l. 60

Trahit sua quemque voluptas.

Everyone is dragged on by their favourite pleasure.

‘Eclogue’ no. 2, l. 65

Malo me Galatea petit, lasciva puella, Et fugit ad salices et se cupit ante videri.

Galatea throws an apple at me, sexy girl, and runs away into the willows and wants to have

been spotted.

‘Eclogue’ no. 3, l. 64

Latet anguis in herba.

There’s a snake hidden in the grass.

‘Eclogue’ no. 3, l. 93

Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites.

It’s not in my power to decide such a great dispute between you.

‘Eclogue’ no. 3, l. 108

Claudite iam rivos, pueri; sat prata biberunt.

Close the sluices now, lads; the fields have drunk enough.

‘Eclogue’ no. 3, l. 111

Sicelides Musae, paulo maiora canamus!

Non omnis arbusta iuvant humilesque myricae; Si canimus silvas, silvae sint consule dignae. Ultima Cumaei venit iam carminis aetas; Magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo. Iam redit et virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna,

Iam nova progenies caelo demittitur alto.

Sicilian Muses, let us sing of rather greater things. Not everyone likes bushes and low