The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

Where the Lowells talk to the Cabots And the Cabots talk only to God.

Verse spoken at Holy Cross College alumni dinner in Boston, Massachusetts, 1910, in ‘Springfield Sunday Republican’ 14 December 1924

2.161 Jacques-Bènigne Bossuet 1627-1704

L’Angleterre, ah, la perfide Angleterre, que le rempart de ses mers rendoit inaccessible aux Romains, la foi du Sauveur y est abordèe.

England, ah, faithless England, which the protection afforded by its seas rendered inaccessible

to the Romans, the faith of the Saviour spread even there.

‘Premier Sermon pour La Fête de la Circoncision de Notre Seigneur’.

2.162 James Boswell 1740-95

We may be in some degree whatever character we choose.

‘Boswell’s London Journal’ (ed. F. A. Pottle, 1950) 21 November 1762

I think there is a blossom about me of something more distinguished than the generality of mankind.

‘Boswell’s London Journal’ (ed. F. A. Pottle, 1950) 20 January 1763

I am, I flatter myself, completely a citizen of the world. In my travels through Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Corsica, France, I never felt myself from home.

‘Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides’ (ed. F. A. Pottle, 1936) 14 August 1773

We [Boswell and Johnson] are both Tories; both convinced of the utility of monarchical power, and both lovers of that reverence and affection for a sovereign which constitute loyalty, a principle which I take to be absolutely extinguished in Britain.

‘Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides’ (ed. F. A. Pottle, 1936) 13 September 1773

A page of my Journal is like a cake of portable soup. A little may be diffused into a considerable portion.

‘Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides’ (ed. F. A. Pottle, 1936) 13 September 1773

I have never yet exerted ambition in rising in the state. But sure I am, no man has made his way better to the best company.

‘Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides’ (ed. F. A. Pottle, 1936) 16 September 1773

Johnson: Well, we had a good talk.

Boswell: Yes, Sir; you tossed and gored several persons.

‘The Life of Samuel Johnson’ (1934 ed.) vol. 2, p. 66 (Summer 1768)

A man, indeed, is not genteel when he gets drunk; but most vices may be committed very genteelly: a man may debauch his friend’s wife genteelly: he may cheat at cards genteelly.

‘The Life of Samuel Johnson’ (1934 ed.) vol. 2, p. 340 (6 April 1775)

2.163 Gordon Bottomley 1874-1948

Your worship is your furnaces,

Which, like old idols, lost obscenes, Have molten bowels; your vision is Machines for making more machines.

‘To Ironfounders and Others’ (1912)

2.164 Horatio Bottomley 1860-1933

No, reaping.

Reply to a prison visitor who asked if he were sewing, in S. T. Felstead ‘Horatio Bottomley’ (1936) ch. 16

Gentlemen: I have not had your advantages. What poor education I have received has been gained in the University of Life.

Speech at the Oxford Union, 2 December 1920, in Beverley Nichols ‘25’ (1926) ch. 7

2.165 Dion Boucicault (Dionysius Lardner Boursiquot 1820-90) 1820-90

Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them.

‘London Assurance’ (1841) act 2, sc. 1.

2.166 Antoine Boulay de la Meurthe 1761-1840

C’est pire qu’un crime, c’est une faute.

It is worse than a crime, it is a blunder.

On hearing of the execution of the Duc d’Enghien, 1804, in C.-A. Sainte-Beuve ‘Nouveaux Lundis’ (1870) vol. 12, p. 52

2.167 Sir Harold Edwin Boulton 1859-1935

When Adam and Eve were dispossessed Of the garden hard by Heaven,

They planted another one down in the west, ’Twas Devon, glorious Devon!

‘Glorious Devon’ (1902)

Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing, ‘Onward,’ the sailors cry;

Carry the lad that’s born to be king, Over the sea to Skye.

‘Skye Boat Song’ (1908)

2.168 Matthew Boulton 1728-1809

I sell here, Sir, what all the world desires to have—power.

Speaking to Boswell of his engineering works, in James Boswell ‘The Life of Samuel Johnson’ (1934 ed.) vol. 2, p. 459 (22 March 1776)

2.169 F. W. Bourdillon 1852-1921

The night has a thousand eyes,

And the day but one;

Yet the light of the bright world dies,

With the dying sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes, And the heart but one;

Yet the light of a whole life dies,

When love is done.

‘Among the Flowers’ (1878) ‘Light’.

2.170 Lord Bowen 1835-94

The rain, it raineth on the just And also on the unjust fella: But chiefly on the just, because

The unjust steals the just’s umbrella.

In Walter Sichel ‘Sands of Time’ (1923) ch. 4

When I hear of an ‘equity’ in a case like this, I am reminded of a blind man in a dark room— looking for a black hat—which isn’t there.

In John Alderson Foote ‘Pie-Powder’ (1911) p. 25

2.171 E. E. Bowen 1836-1901

Forty years on, when afar and asunder Parted are those who are singing to-day.

‘Forty Years On’ (Harrow School Song, published 1886)

Follow up! Follow up! Follow up! Follow up! Follow up! Till the field ring again and again,

With the tramp of the twenty-two men, Follow up!

‘Forty Years On’ (Harrow School Song, published 1886)

2.172 Elizabeth Bowen 1899-1973

The innocent are so few that two of them seldom meet—when they do, their victims lie strewn around.

‘The Death of the Heart’ (1938) pt. 1, ch. 8

It is about five o’clock in an evening that the first hour of spring strikes—autumn arrives in the early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day.

‘The Death of the Heart’ (1938) pt. 2, ch. 1

Some people are moulded by their admirations, others by their hostilities.

‘The Death of the Heart’ (1938) pt. 2, ch. 2

There is no end to the violations committed by children on children, quietly talking alone.

‘The House in Paris’ (1935) pt. 1, ch. 2

Fate is not an eagle, it creeps like a rat.

‘The House in Paris’ (1935) pt. 2, ch. 2

Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies.

‘The House in Paris’ (1935) pt. 2, ch. 8

It is not only our fate but our business to lose innocence, and once we have lost that, it is futile to attempt a picnic in Eden.

‘Out of a Book’ in ‘Orion III’ (ed. Rosamund Lehmann et al, 1946)

A high altar on the move.

Describing Edith Sitwell, in V. Glendinning ‘Edith Sitwell’ (1981) ch. 25

2.173 David Bowie (David Jones) 1947—

Ground control to Major Tom.

‘Space Oddity’ (1969 song)

2.174 William Lisle Bowles 1762-1850

The cause of Freedom is the cause of God!

‘A Poetical Address to the Right Honourable Edmund Burke’ (1791) l. 78

2.175 Sir Maurice Bowra 1898-1971

I’m a man more dined against than dining.

In John Betjeman ‘Summoned by Bells’ (1960) ch. 9.

My dear fellow, buggers can’t be choosers.

On being told he could not marry anyone as plain as his fiancèe, in Hugh Lloyd-Jones ‘Maurice Bowra: a Celebration’ (1974) p. 150 (possibly apocryphal)

2.176 Lord Brabazon (Baron Brabazon of Tara) 1884-1964

If you cannot say what you are going to say in twenty minutes you ought to go away and write a book about it.

‘Hansard (Lords)’ 21 June 1955, col. 207

2.177 Charles Brackett 1892-1969, Billy Wilder 1906-, and D. M. Marshman Jr.

Joe Gillis: You used to be in pictures. You used to be big. Norma Desmond: I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.

‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950 film)

2.178 Charles Brackett 1892-1969, Billy Wilder 1906-, and Walter Reisch 1903-83

Ninotchka: Why should you carry other people’s bags? Porter: Well, that’s my business, Madame.

Ninotchka: That’s no business. That’s social injustice. Porter: That depends on the tip.

‘Ninotchka’ (1939 film)

2.179 E. E. Bradford 1860-1944

I walked with Will through bracken turning brown, Pale yellow, orange, dun and golden-red.

‘God made the country and man made the town— And woman made Society,’ he said.

‘Society’.

2.180 John Bradford c.1510-55

But for the grace of God there goes John Bradford.

On seeing a group of criminals being led to their execution, in ‘Dictionary of National Biography’ (often echoed in the form ‘There but for the grace of God go I’)

2.181 F. H. Bradley (Francis Herbert Bradley) 1846-1924

Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.

‘Appearance and Reality’ (1893) preface

The world is the best of all possible worlds, and everything in it is a necessary evil.

‘Appearance and Reality’ (1893) preface (on optimism)

Where everything is bad it must be good to know the worst.

‘Appearance and Reality’ (1893) preface (on pessimism)

That the glory of this world...is appearance leaves the world more glorious, if we feel it is a show of some fuller splendour; but the sensuous curtain is a deception...if it hides some colourless movement of atoms, some...unearthly ballet of bloodless categories.

‘Principles of Logic’ (1883) bk. 3, pt. 2, ch. 4

2.182 Omar Bradley 1893-1981

We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount.

Speech on Armistice Day, 1948, in ‘Collected Writings’ (1967) vol. 1, p. 588

The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of unclear giants and ethical infants.

Speech on Armistice Day, 1948, in ‘Collected Writings’ (1967) vol. 1, p.

2.183 John Bradshaw 1602-59

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

Suppositious epitaph. Henry S. Randall ‘The Life of Thomas Jefferson’ (1865) vol. 3, appendix 4, p. 585

2.184 Anne Bradstreet c.1612-72

I am obnoxious to each carping tongue, Who sayes my hand a needle better fits,

A poet’s pen, all scorne, I should thus wrong;

For such despight they cast on female wits: If what I doe prove well, it won’t advance,

They’ll say it’s stolne, or else, it was by chance.

‘The Prologue’ (1650)

Let Greeks be Greeks, and Women what they are, Men have precedency, and still excel.

‘The Prologue’ (1650)

This meane and unrefinéd stuffe of mine,

Will make your glistering gold but more to shine.

‘The Prologue’ (1650)

2.185 Ernest Bramah (Ernest Bramah Smith) 1868-1942

It is a mark of insincerity of purpose to spend one’s time in looking for the sacred Emperor in the low-class tea-shops.

‘The Wallet of Kai Lung’ (1900) p. 6

In his countenance this person read an expression of no-encouragement towards his venture.

‘The Wallet of Kai Lung’ (1900) p. 224

The whole narrative is permeated with the odour of joss-sticks and honourable highmindedness.

‘The Wallet of Kai Lung’ (1900) p. 330

2.186 James Bramston c.1694-1744

What’s not destroyed by Time’s devouring hand? Where’s Troy, and where’s the Maypole in the Strand?

‘The Art of Politics’ (1729) l. 71

2.187 Georges Braque 1882-1963

L’Art est fait pour troubler, la Science rassure.

Art is meant to disturb, science reassures.

‘Le Jour et la nuit: Cahiers 1917-52’ p. 11

La vèritè existe; on n’invente que le mensonge.

Truth exists; only lies are invented.

‘Le Jour et la nuit: Cahiers 1917-52’ p. 20

2.188 Richard Brathwaite c.1588-1673

To Banbury came I, O profane one! Where I saw a Puritane-one Hanging of his cat on Monday

For killing of a mouse on Sunday.

‘Barnabee’s Journal’ (1638) pt. 1, st. 4

2.189 Irving Brecher 1914—

I’ll bet your father spent the first year of your life throwing rocks at the stork.

‘At the Circus’ (Marx Brothers film, 1939)

Time wounds all heals.

‘Go West’ (Marx Brothers film, 1940); ‘heels’ may well have been intended, but is not given thus

2.190 Bertolt Brecht 1898-1956

Der aufhaltsame Aufstieg des Arturo Ui.

The resistible rise of Arturo Ui.

Title of play (1941)

Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne Und die trägt er im Gesicht Und Macheath, der hat ein Messer Doch das Messer sieht man nicht.

Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear, And he shows them pearly white.

Just a jack-knife has Macheath, dear And he keeps it out of sight.

‘Die Dreigroschenoper’ (1928) prologue

Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Moral.

Food comes first, then morals.

‘Die Dreigroschenoper’ (1928) act 2, sc. 3

Was ist ein Einbruch in eine Bank gegen die Gründung einer Bank?

What is robbing a bank compared with founding a bank?

‘Die Dreigroschenoper’ (1928) act 3, sc. 3

Andrea: Unglücklich das Land, das keine Helden hat!...

Galilei: Nein. Unglücklich das Land, das Helden nötig hat.

Andrea: Unhappy the land that has no heroes!...

Galileo: No. Unhappy the land that needs heroes.

‘Leben des Galilei’ (1939) sc. 13

Man merkts, hier ist zu lang kein Krieg gewesen. Wo soll da Moral herkommen, frag ich? Frieden, das ist nur Schlamperei, erst der Krieg schafft Ordnung.

One observes, they have gone too long without a war here. What is the moral, I ask? Peace is

nothing but slovenliness, only war creates order.

‘Mutter Courage’ (1939) sc. 1

Weil ich ihm nicht trau, wir sind befreundet.

Because I don’t trust him, we are friends.

‘Mutter Courage’ (1939) sc. 3

Die schönsten Plän sind schon zuschanden geworden durch die Kleinlichheit von denen, wo sie ausführen sollten, denn die Kaiser selber können ja nix machen.

The finest plans are always ruined by the littleness of those who ought to carry them out, for the Emperor himself can actually do nothing.

‘Mutter Courage’ (1939) sc. 6

Der Krieg findet immer einen Ausweg.

War always finds a way.

‘Mutter Courage’ (1939) sc. 6

Sagen Sie mir nicht, dass Friede ausgebrochen ist, wo ich eben neue Vorräte eingekauft hab.

Don’t tell me peace has broken out, when I’ve just bought some new supplies.

‘Mutter Courage’ (1939) sc. 8

2.191 Gerald Brenan 1894—

Those who have some means think that the most important thing in the world is love. The poor know that it is money.

‘Thoughts in a Dry Season’ (1978) p. 22.

Religions are kept alive by heresies, which are really sudden explosions of faith. Dead religions do not produce them.

‘Thoughts in a Dry Season’ (1978) p. 45

2.192 Nicholas Breton c.1545-1626

We rise with the lark and go to bed with the lamb.

‘The Court and Country’ (1618) para. 8

I wish my deadly foe, no worse

Than want of friends, and empty purse.

‘A Farewell to Town’ (1577)

In the merry month of May, In a morn by break of day,

Forth I walked by the wood side, Whenas May was in his pride: There I spied all alone,

Phillida and Coridon.

‘Phillida and Coridon’

Come little babe, come silly soul,

Thy father’s shame, thy mother’s grief, Born as I doubt to all our dole,

And to thy self unhappy chief: Sing lullaby and lap it warm,

Poor soul that thinks no creature harm.

‘A Sweet Lullaby’

2.193 Aristide Briand 1862-1932

Les hautes parties contractantes dèclarent solennellement...qu’elles condamnent le recours á la guerre...et y renoncent en tant qu’instrument de politique nationale dans leurs relations

mutuelles...le réglement ou la solution de tous les diffèrends ou conflits—de quelque nature ou de quelque origine qu’ils puissent être—qui pourront surgir entre elles ne devra jamais être cherchè que par des moyens pacifiques.

The high contracting powers solemnly declare...that they condemn recourse to war and renounce it...as an instrument of their national policy towards each other....The settlement or the solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be which

may arise...shall never be sought by either side except by pacific means.

Draft, 20 June 1927, which became part of the Kellogg Pact, 1928, in ‘Le Temps’ 13 April 1928

2.194 Robert Bridges 1844-1930

When men were all asleep the snow came flying, In large white flakes falling on the city brown, Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying, Hushing the latest traffic of the drowsy town.

‘London Snow’ (1890)

All night it fell, and when full inches seven

It lay in the depth of its uncompacted lightness, The clouds blew off from a high and frosty heaven;

And all woke earlier for the unaccustomed brightness Of the winter dawning, the strange unheavenly glare.

‘London Snow’ (1890)

So sweet love seemed that April morn, When first we kissed beside the thorn, So strangely sweet, it was not strange We thought that love could never change.

But I can tell—let truth be told— That love will change in growing old; Though day by day is nought to see,

So delicate his motions be.

‘So sweet love seemed’ (1894)

2.195 John Bright 1811-89

The angel of death has been abroad throughout the land; you may almost hear the beating of his wings.

Referring to the effects of the war in the Crimea, in ‘Hansard’, 23 February 1855, col. 1761

I am for ‘Peace, retrenchment, and reform’, the watchword of the great Liberal party 30 years ago.

Speech at Birmingham, 28 April 1859, in ‘The Times’ 29 April 1859

My opinion is that the Northern States will manage somehow to muddle through.

Said during the American Civil War, in Justin McCarthy ‘Reminiscences’ (1899) vol. 1, ch. 5

England is the mother of Parliaments.

Speech at Birmingham, 18 January 1865, in ‘The Times’ 19 January 1865

The right hon Gentleman...has retired into what may be called his political Cave of Adullam— and he has called about him every one that was in distress and every one that was discontented.

‘Hansard’, 13 March 1866, col. 219

This party of two is like the Scotch terrier that was so covered with hair that you could not tell which was the head and which was the tail.

‘Hansard’, 13 March 1866, col. 220

Force is not a remedy.

Speech to the Birmingham Junior Liberal Club, 16 November 1880, in ‘The Times’ 17 November 1880

The knowledge of the ancient languages is mainly a luxury.

Letter in ‘Pall Mall Gazette’, 30 November 1886

2.196 Anthelme Brillat-Savarin 1755-1826

Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es.

Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.

‘Physiologie du Goût’ (1825) ‘Aphorismes pour servir de prolègoménes’, aphorism no. 4.

2.197 David Broder 1929—

Anybody that wants the presidency so much that he’ll spend two years organizing and campaigning for it is not to be trusted with the office.

‘Washington Post’ 18 July 1973, p. A 25

2.198 Alexander Brome 1620-66

I have been in love, and in debt, and in drink, This many and many a year.

‘Songs and Other Poems’ (2nd ed., 1664) pt. 1 ‘The Mad Lover’

Come, blessed peace, we once again implore, And let our pains be less, or power more.

‘Songs and Other Poems’ (1668) ‘The Riddle’ (written 1664)

2.199 Jacob Bronowski 1908-74

The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation...The hand is the cutting edge of the mind.

‘The Ascent of Man’ (1973) ch. 3

The essence of science: ask an impertinent question, and you are on the way to a pertinent answer.

‘The Ascent of Man’ (1973) ch. 4

The wish to hurt, the momentary intoxication with pain, is the loophole through which the pervert climbs into the minds of ordinary men.