The Oxford dictionary of modern quotations (58 page)

1885-1951

Our American professors like their literature clear and cold and pure and

very dead.

The American Fear of Literature (Nobel Prize Address, 12 Dec. 1930), in

H. Frenz Literature 1901-1967 (1969) p. 285

His name was George F. Babbitt. He was forty-six years old now, in April,

1920, and he made nothing in particular, neither butter nor shoes nor

poetry, but he was nimble in the calling of selling houses for more than

people could afford to pay.

Babbitt (1922) ch. 1

To George F. Babbitt, as to most prosperous citizens of Zenith, his motor

car was poetry and tragedy, love and heroism. The office was his pirate

ship but the car his perilous excursion ashore.

Babbitt (1922) ch. 3

In other countries, art and literature are left to a lot of shabby bums

living in attics and feeding on booze and spaghetti, but in America the

successful writer or picture-painter is indistinguishable from any other

decent business man.

Babbitt (1922) ch. 14

It can't happen here.

Title of novel (1935)

12.56 Robert Ley =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1890-1945

Kraft durch Freude.

Strength through joy.

German Labour Front slogan, in The Times 30 Nov. 1933, p. 13

12.57 Liberace (Wladziu Valentino Liberace) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1919-1987

He [Liberace] begins to belabour the critics announcing that he doesn't

mind what they say but that poor George [his brother] "cried all the way

to the bank."

Collier's 17 Sept. 1954 (Cf. Liberace's Autobiography (1973) ch. 2: "When

the reviews are bad I tell my staff that they can join me as I cry all the

way to the bank")

12.58 Beatrice Lillie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1894-1989

At one early, glittering dinner party at Buckingham Palace, the trembling

hand of a nervous waiter spilled a spoonful of decidedly hot soup down my

neck. How could I manage to ease his mind and turn his embarrassed

apologies into a smile, except to put on a pretended frown and say,

without thinking: "Never darken my Dior again!"

Every Other Inch a Lady (1973) ch. 14

12.59 R. M. Lindner =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1914-1956

Rebel without a cause...the hypnoanalysis of a criminal psychopath.

Title of book (1944)

12.60 Audrey Erskine Lindop =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1920-1986

The singer not the song.

Title of book (1953)

12.61 Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Howard Lindsay 1888-1968

Russel Crouse 1893-1966

Call me madam.

Title of musical (1950; music by Irving Berlin)

12.62 Vachel Lindsay =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1879-1931

Booth led boldly with his big brass drum--

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)

The Saints smiled gravely and they said: "He's come."

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)

Walking Lepers followed, rank on rank,

Lurching bravos from the ditches dank,

Drabs from the alleyways and drug fiends pale--

Minds still passion-ridden, soul-power frail:--

Vermin-eaten saints with moldy breath,

Unwashed legions with the ways of Death--

(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)

Collected Poems (1934) "General William Booth Enters into Heaven" (1913)

Booth died blind and still by faith he trod,

Eyes still dazzled by the ways of God.

Collected Poems (1934) "General William Booth Enters into Heaven" (1913)

Then I saw the congo, creeping through the black,

Cutting through the forest with a golden track.

The Congo and Other Poems (1922) "The Congo" (1914) pt. 1

12.63 Eric Linklater =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1899-1974

"There won't be any revolution in America," said Isadore. Nikitin agreed.

"The people are all too clean. They spend all their time changing their

shirts and washing themselves. You can't feel fierce and revolutionary in

a bathroom."

Juan in America (1931) bk. 5, pt. 3

12.64 Art Linkletter =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1912-

The four stages of man are infancy, childhood, adolescence and

obsolescence.

A Child's Garden of Misinformation (1965) ch. 8

12.65 Walter Lippmann =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1889-1974

Mr Coolidge's genius for inactivity is developed to a very high point. It

is far from being an indolent activity. It is a grim, determined, alert

inactivity which keeps Mr Coolidge occupied constantly. Nobody has ever

worked harder at inactivity, with such force of character, with such

unremitting attention to detail, with such conscientious devotion to the

task. Inactivity is a political philosophy and a party program with Mr

Coolidge.

Men of Destiny (1927) p. 12

The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the

conviction and the will to carry on.

New York Herald Tribune 14 Apr. 1945

12.66 Joan Littlewood and Charles Chilton =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1914-

Oh what a lovely war.

Title of stage show (1963)

12.67 Maxim Litvinov =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1876-1951

Peace is indivisible.

Note to the Allies, 25 Feb. 1920, in A. U. Pope Maxim Litvinoff (1943) p.

234

12.68 Ken Livingstone =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1945-

The problem is that many MPs never see the London that exists beyond the

wine bars and brothels of Westminster.

The Times 19 Feb. 1987

12.69 Richard Llewellyn (Richard Dafydd Vivian Llewellyn Lloyd) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1907-1983

How green was my valley.

Title of book (1939)

12.70 Jack Llewelyn-Davies =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1894-1959

Little Mary [by J.M. Barrie] opened at Wyndham's Theatre on September

24th, 1903, and...it contained a sprinkling of lines contributed by the

boys, including a remark from Jack [Llewelyn-Davies]. When stuffing

himself with cakes at tea, Sylvia had warned him, "You'll be sick

tomorrow." "I'll be sick tonight," replied Jack cheerily.

Andrew Birkin J. M. Barrie and the Lost Boys (1979) p. 99

12.71 David Lloyd George (Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1863-1945

Negotiating with de Valera...is like trying to pick up mercury with a

fork.

In M. J. MacManus Eamon de Valera (1944) ch. 6 (to which de Valera

replied, "Why doesn't he use a spoon?")

This [The House of Lords] is the leal and trusty mastiff which is to watch

over our interests, but which runs away at the first snarl of the trade

unions....A mastiff? It is the right hon. Gentleman's [Mr Balfour's]

poodle.

Hansard 26 June 1907, col. 1429

Those are the conditions of the armistice. Thus at eleven o'clock this

morning came to an end the cruellest and most terrible War that has ever

scourged mankind. I hope we may say that thus, this fateful morning, came

to an end all wars.

Hansard 11 Nov. 1918, col. 2463. Cf. H. G. Wells 225:4

Winston was nervous before a speech, but he was not shy. L.G. said he

himself was both nervous and shy. Winston would go up to his Creator and

say that he would very much like to meet His Son, about Whom he had heard

a great deal and, if possible, would like to call on the Holy Ghost.

Winston loved meeting people.

A. J. Sylvester Diary 2 Jan. 1937, in Life with Lloyd George (1975) p. 166

He [Ramsay MacDonald] had sufficient conscience to bother him, but not

sufficient to keep him straight.

In A. J. Sylvester Life with Lloyd George (1975) p. 216

A fully-equipped duke costs as much to keep up as two Dreadnoughts; and

dukes are just as great a terror and they last longer.

Speech at Newcastle, 9 Oct. 1909, in The Times 11 Oct. 1909

The great peaks of honour we had forgotten--Duty, Patriotism, and--clad in

glittering white--the great pinnacle of Sacrifice, pointing like a rugged

finger to Heaven.

Speech at Queen's Hall, London, 19 Sept. 1914, in The Times 20 Sept. 1914

What is our task? To make Britain a fit country for heroes to live in.

Speech at Wolverhampton, 23 Nov. 1918, in The Times 25 Nov. 1918

M. Clemenceau...is one of the greatest living orators, but he knows that

the finest eloquence is that which gets things done and the worst is that

which delays them.

Speech at Paris Peace Conference, 18 Jan. 1919, in The Times 20 Jan. 1919

The world is becoming like a lunatic asylum run by lunatics.

In Observer 8 Jan. 1933

What were politicians? A politician was a person with whose politics you

did not agree. When you did agree, he was a statesman.

Speech at Central Hall, Westminster, 2 July 1935, in The Times 3 July 1935

12.72 David Lodge =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1935-

Literature is mostly about having sex and not much about having children.

Life is the other way round.

The British Museum is Falling Down (1965) ch. 4

12.73 Frank Loesser =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1910-1969

See what the boys in the back room will have

And tell them I'm having the same.

Boys in the Back Room (1939 song; music by Frederick Hollander)

I'd love to get you

On a slow boat to China,

All to myself, alone.

Slow Boat to China (1948 song)

Spring will be a little late this year.

Title of song (1944)

12.74 Jack London (John Griffith London) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1876-1916

The call of the wild.

Title of novel (1903)

12.75 Alice Roosevelt Longworth =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1884-1980

[Warren] Harding was not a bad man. He was just a slob.

Crowded Hours (1933) ch. 20

If you haven't got anything good to say about anyone come and sit by me.

Maxim embroidered on a cushion, in Michael Teague Mrs L: Conversations

with Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1981) p. xi

12.76 Frederick Lonsdale =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1881-1954

"Don't keep finishing your sentences," he said to me once when I was

telling him something; "I'm not a bloody fool."

Frances Donaldson Child of the Twenties (1959) p. 11

12.77 Anita Loos =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1893-1981

So this gentleman said a girl with brains ought to do something with them

besides think.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) ch. 1

Gentlemen always seem to remember blondes.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) ch. 1

She said she always believed in the old addage, "Leave them while you're

looking good."

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) ch. 1

So I really think that American gentlemen are the best after all, because

kissing your hand may make you feel very very good but a diamond and

safire bracelet lasts forever.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) ch. 4

You have got to be a Queen to get away with a hat like that.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) ch. 4

Fun is fun but no girl wants to laugh all of the time.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) ch. 4

So then Dr Froyd said that all I needed was to cultivate a few inhibitions

and get some sleep.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) ch. 5

So then he said that he used to be a member of the choir himself, so who

was he to cast the first rock at a girl like I.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925) ch. 5

12.78 Frederico Garc�a Lorca =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1899-1936

A las cinco de la tarde.

Eran las cinco en punto de la tarde.

Un ni�o trajo la blanca s�bana

a las cinco de la tarde.

At five in the afternoon.

It was exactly five in the afternoon.

A boy brought the white sheet

at five in the afternoon.

Llanto por Ignacio S�nchez Mej�as(Lament for Ignacio S�nchez Mej�as,

1935) "La Cogida y la muerte"

Verde que te quiero verde.

Verde viento.

Verde ramas.

El barco sobre la mar

y el caballo en la monta�a.

Green how I love you green.

Green wind.

Green boughs.

The ship on the sea

and the horse on the mountain.

Romancero Gitano (Gypsy Romances, 1924-1927) "Romance Son�mbulo"