The Oxford dictionary of modern quotations (61 page)

is the policy for promoting progress in the arts and the sciences and

a flourishing socialist culture in our land.

Speech at Peking, 27 Feb. 1957, in Quotations of Chairman Mao (1966)

p. 302

A revolution is not the same as inviting people to dinner, or writing an

essay, or painting a picture....A revolution is an insurrection, an act of

violence by which one class overthrows another.

Report, Mar. 1927, in Selected Works (1954) vol. 1, p. 27

The atom bomb is a paper tiger which the United States reactionaries use

to scare people. It looks terrible, but in fact it isn't. Of course, the

atom bomb is a weapon of mass slaughter, but the outcome of a war is

decided by the people, not by one or two new types of weapon.

Interview with Anne Louise Strong, Aug. 1946, in Selected Works (1961)

vol. 4, p. 100

All reactionaries are paper tigers. In appearance, the reactionaries are

terrifying, but in reality they are not so powerful. From a long-term

point of view, it is not the reactionaries but the people who are really

powerful.

Interview with Anne Louise Strong, Aug. 1946, in Selected Works (1961)

vol. 4, p. 100

Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.

Lecture, 1938, in Selected Works (1965) vol. 2, p. 153

Every Communist must grasp the truth, "Political power grows out of the

barrel of a gun."

Speech at 6th Plenary Session of 6th Central Committee, 6 Nov. 1938, in

Selected Works (1965) vol. 2, p. 224

13.56 Edwin Markham =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1852-1940

Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans

Upon his hoe and gazes on the ground,

The emptiness of ages in his face,

And on his back the burden of the world.

Who made him dead to rapture and despair,

A thing that grieves not and that never hopes,

Stolid and stunned, a brother to the ox?

Man with the Hoe and Other Poems (1899) "Man with the Hoe"

He drew a circle that shut me out--

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But Love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle that took him in!

Shoes of Happiness (1915) "Outwitted"

13.57 Dewey 'Pigmeat' Markham =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1906-1981

Here comes the judge.

Title of song (1968; written with Dick Alen, Bob Astor, and Sarah Harvey;

subsequently a catch-phrase, often in the form "Here come de judge")

13.58 Johnny Marks =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1909-1985

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Had a very shiny nose,

And if you ever saw it,

You would even say it glows.

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949 song), based on a Robert L. May

story (1939)

13.59 Don Marquis =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1878-1937

but wotthehell wotthehell

oh i should worry and fret

death and I will coquette

there s a dance in the old dame yet

toujours gai toujours gai.

archy and mehitabel (1927) "the song of mehitabel"

procrastination is the

art of keeping

up with yesterday.

archy and mehitabel (1927) "certain maxims of archy"

an optimist is a guy

that has never had

much experience.

archy and mehitabel (1927) "certain maxims of archy"

I have got you out here

in the great open spaces

where cats are cats.

archy and mehitabel (1927) "mehitabel has an adventure"

but wotthehell

archy wotthehell

it s cheerio

my deario that

pulls a lady through.

archy and mehitabel (1927) "cheerio, my deario"

but wotthehell archy wotthehell

jamais triste archy jamais triste

that is my motto.

archy and mehitabel (1927) "mehitabel sees paris"

boss there is always

a comforting thought

in time of trouble when

it is not our trouble

archy does his part (1935) "comforting thoughts"

honesty is a good

thing but

it is not profitable to

its possessor

unless it is

kept under control.

archys life of mehitabel (1933) "archygrams"

did you ever

notice that when

a politician

does get an idea

he usually

gets it all wrong.

archys life of mehitabel (1933) no. 40 "archygrams"

now and then

there is a person born

who is so unlucky

that he runs into accidents

which started to happen

to somebody else.

archys life of mehitabel (1933) "archy says"

Writing a book of poetry is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand

Canyon and waiting for the echo.

In E. Anthony O Rare Don Marquis (1962) p. 146

The art of newspaper paragraphing is to stroke a platitude until it purrs

like an epigram.

In E. Anthony O Rare Don Marquis (1962) p. 354

13.60 Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Anthony Marriott 1931-

Alistair Foot

No sex please--we're British.

Title of play (1971)

13.61 Arthur Marshall =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1910-1989

Oh My! Bertha's got a bang on the boko. Keep a stiff upper lip, Bertha

dear. What, knocked a tooth out? Never mind, dear, laugh it off, laugh it

off; it's all part of life's rich pageant.

The Games Mistress (recorded monologue, 1937)

13.62 Thomas R. Marshall =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1854-1925

What this country needs is a really good 5-cent cigar.

In New York Tribune 4 Jan. 1920, pt. 7, p. 1

13.63 Dean Martin =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1917-

You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.

In Paul Dickson Official Rules (1978) p. 112

13.64 Holt Marvell =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

A cigarette that bears a lipstick's traces,

An airline ticket to romantic places;

And still my heart has wings

These foolish things

Remind me of you.

These Foolish Things Remind Me of You (1935 song; music by Jack Strachey

and Harry Link)

13.65 Chico Marx =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1891-1961

I wasn't kissing her, I was just whispering in her mouth.

In Groucho Marx and Richard J. Anobile Marx Brothers Scrapbook (1973)

ch. 24

13.66 Groucho Marx =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1895-1977

From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was

convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.

In Hector Arce Groucho (1979) p. 188 (a blurb written for S. J. Perelman's

1928 book Dawn Ginsberg's Revenge)

I sent the club a wire stating, Please accept my resignation. I don't want

to belong to any club that will accept me as a member.

Groucho and Me (1959) ch. 26

I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.

In Leo Rosten People I have Loved, Known or Admired (1970) "Groucho"

13.67 Queen Mary =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1867-1953

"Well, Mr Baldwin!" Queen Mary exclaimed, stepping briskly into the room,

her hands held out before her in a gesture of despair, "this is a pretty

kettle of fish!"

James Pope-Hennessy Life of Queen Mary (1959) pt. 4, ch. 7 (said on

17 Nov. 1936, after Edward VIII had told her he was prepared to give up

the throne to marry Mrs Simpson)

So that's what hay looks like.

James Pope-Hennessy Life of Queen Mary (1959) pt. 4, ch. 8 (said at

Badminton House, where she was evacuated during the Second World War)

13.68 Eric Maschwitz =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1901-1969

A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square.

Title of song (1940; music by Manning Sherwin)

13.69 John Masefield =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1878-1967

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir

Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,

With a cargo of ivory,

And apes and peacocks,

Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

Ballads (1903) "Cargoes"

Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack,

Butting through the Channel in the mad March days,

With a cargo of Tyne coal,

Road-rails, pig lead,

Firewood, ironware, and cheap tin trays.

Ballads (1903) "Cargoes"

Oh some are fond of Spanish wine, and some are fond of French,

And some'll swallow tay and stuff fit only for a wench.

Ballads (1903) "Captain Stratton's Fancy"

Oh some are fond of fiddles, and a song well sung,

And some are all for music for a lilt upon the tongue;

But mouths were made for tankards, and for sucking at the bung,

Says the old bold mate of Henry Morgan.

Ballads (1903) "Captain Stratton's Fancy"

I have seen dawn and sunset on moors and windy hills,

Coming in solemn beauty like slow old tunes of Spain.

Ballads (1903) "Beauty"

But the loveliest things of beauty God ever has showed to me,

Are her voice, and her hair, and eyes, and the dear red curve of her

lips.

Ballads (1903) "Beauty"

One road leads to London,

One road runs to Wales,

My road leads me seawards

To the white dipping sails.

Ballads (1903) "Roadways"

In the dark womb where I began

My mother's life made me a man.

Through all the months of human birth

Her beauty fed my common earth.

I cannot see, nor breathe, nor stir,

But through the death of some of her.

Ballads and Poems (1910) "C.L.M."

Jane brought the bowl of stewing gin

And poured the egg and lemon in,

And whisked it up and served it out

While bawdy questions went about.

Jack chucked her chin, and Jim accost her

With bits out of the "Maid of Gloster."

And fifteen arms went round her waist.

(And then men ask, Are Barmaids Chaste?)

The Everlasting Mercy (1911) st. 26

And he who gives a child a treat

Makes joy-bells ring in Heaven's street.

And he who gives a child a home

Builds palaces in Kingdom come,

And she who gives a baby birth

Brings Saviour Christ again to Earth,

For life is joy, and mind is fruit,

And body's precious earth and root.

The Everlasting Mercy (1911) st. 47

The corn that makes the holy bread

By which the soul of man is fed,

The holy bread, the food unpriced,

Thy everlasting mercy, Christ.

The Everlasting Mercy (1911) st. 86

Death opens unknown doors. It is most grand to die.

Pompey The Great (1910) act 2

And all the way, that wild high crying,

To cold his blood with the thought of dying.

Reynard the Fox (1919) pt. 2, st. 49

The stars grew bright in the winter sky,

The wind came keen with a tang of frost,

The brook was troubled for new things lost,

The copse was happy for old things found,

The fox came home and he went to ground.

Reynard the Fox (1919) pt. 2, st. 137

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

Salt-Water Ballads (1902) "Sea Fever"

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.

Salt-Water Ballads (1902) "Sea Fever"

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted

knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Salt-Water Ballads (1902) "Sea Fever"

It's a warm wind, the west wind, full of birds' cries;

I never hear the west wind but tears are in my eyes.

For it comes from the west lands, the old brown hills,

And April's in the west wind, and daffodils.

Salt-Water Ballads (1902) "West Wind"

It is good to be out on the road, and going one knows not where,

Going through meadow and village, one knows not whither nor why.

Salt-Water Ballads (1902) "Tewkesbury Road"

In this life he laughs longest who laughs last.

Widow in Bye Street (1912) ch. 4, p. 66

13.70 Donald Mason =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1913-

Sighted sub, sank same.

Radio message, 28 Jan. 1942, in New York Times 27 Feb. 1942 (on sinking

Japanese submarine in the Atlantic region, the first US naval success in

the war)

13.71 Sir James Mathew =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-