The Oxford dictionary of modern quotations (70 page)

the sum involved.

Parkinson's Law (1958) "High Finance"

It is now known, however, that men enter local politics solely as a result

of being unhappily married.

Parkinson's Law (1958) "Pension Point"

16.16 'Banjo' Paterson (Andrew Barton Paterson) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1864-1941

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,

Under the shade of a coolibah tree;

And he sang as he watched and waited till his "Billy" boiled:

"You'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me."

Waltzing Matilda (1903 song)

16.17 Alan Paton =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1903-

Cry, the beloved country.

Title of novel (1948)

16.18 Norman Vincent Peale =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1898-

The power of positive thinking.

Title of book (1952)

16.19 Charles S. Pearce =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Keep that schoolgirl complexion.

Advertising slogan for Palmolive soap, from 1917, in Nigel Rees Slogans

(1982) p. 113

16.20 Hesketh Pearson =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1887-1964

Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the learned.

A widely-read man never quotes accurately, for the rather obvious reason

that he has read too widely.

Common Misquotations (1934) Introduction

There is no stronger craving in the world than that of the rich for

titles, except perhaps that of the titled for riches.

The Pilgrim Daughters (1961) ch. 6

16.21 Lester Pearson =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1897-1972

The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants and for

peace like retarded pygmies.

Speech in Toronto, 14 Mar. 1955

Not only did he [Dean Acheson] not suffer fools gladly, he did not suffer

them at all.

Time 25 Oct. 1971, p. 20

16.22 Charles P�guy =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1873-1914

Qui ne gueule pas la v�rit�, quand il sait la v�rit�, se fait le complice

des menteurs et des faussaires.

He who does not bellow the truth when he knows the truth makes himself the

accomplice of liars and forgers.

Lettre du Provincial 21 Dec. 1899, in Basic Verities (1943) "Honest

People"

La tyrannie est toujours mieux organis�e que la libert�.

Tyranny is always better organised than freedom.

In Basic Verities (1943) "War and Peace"

16.23 Vladimir Peniakoff =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1897-1951

That night a message came on the wireless for me. It said: "SPREAD ALARM

AND DESPONDENCY." So the time had come, I thought, Eighth Army was taking

the offensive. The date was, I think, May 18th, 1942.

Private Army (1950) pt. 2, ch. 5

16.24 William H. Penn =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

See Albert H. Fitz (6.19)

16.25 S. J. Perelman =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1904-1979

Crazy like a fox.

Title of book (1944)

I have Bright's disease and he has mine, sobbed the panting palooka.

Judge 16 Nov. 1929

16.26 S. J. Perelman, Will B. Johnstone, and Arthur Sheekman =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

S. J. Perelman 1904-1979

Will B. Johnstone

Arthur Sheekman

Do you suppose I could buy back my introduction to you?

Monkey Business (1931 film), in The Four Marx Brothers in Monkey Business

and Duck Soup (1972) p. 18

Look at me. Worked myself up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty.

Monkey Business (1931 film) in, The Four Marx Brothers in Monkey Business

and Duck Soup (1972) p. 54

16.27 Carl Perkins =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1932-

It's one for the money,

Two for the show,

Three to get ready,

Now go, cat, go!

But don't you step on my Blue Suede Shoes.

You can do anything but lay off my Blue Suede Shoes.

Blue Suede Shoes (1956 song)

16.28 Frances Perkins =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1882-1965

Why not "Madam Secretary," if that form is to be used at all? One is

accustomed to "madam chairman" ...so it comes more naturally, don't you

think?

When asked how she should be addressed as the first US woman cabinet

member, in New York Times 6 Mar. 1933, p. 14. Cf. Howard Lindsay and

Russel Crouse

16.29 Juan Per�n =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1895-1974

If I had not been born Per�n, I would have liked to be Per�n.

In Observer 21 Feb. 1960

16.30 Ted Persons =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Things ain't what they used to be.

Title of song (1941; music by Mercer Ellington). Cf. Frank Norman and

Lionel Bart

16.31 Henri Philippe P�tain =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1856-1951

To write one's memoirs is to speak ill of everybody except oneself.

In Observer 26 May 1946

16.32 Laurence Peter and Raymond Hull =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Laurence Peter 1919-

Raymond Hull

My analysis...led me to formulate The Peter Principle: In a Hierarchy

Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence.

The Peter Principle (1969) ch. 1

In time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent

to carry out its duties....Work is accomplished by those employees who

have not yet reached their level of incompetence.

The Peter Principle (1969) ch. 1

Competence, like truth, beauty and contact lenses, is in the eye of the

beholder.

The Peter Principle (1969) ch. 3

16.33 Kim Philby (Harold Adrian Russell Philby) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1912-1988

To betray, you must first belong. I never belonged.

In Sunday Times 17 Dec. 1967, p. 2

16.34 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1921-

I don't think doing it [killing animals] for money makes it any more

moral. I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are

doing the same thing.

Speech in London, 6 Dec. 1988, comparing participation in blood sports to

selling slaughtered meat, in The Times 7 Dec. 1988

I never see any home cooking. All I get is fancy stuff.

In Observer 28 Oct. 1962

If you stay here much longer you'll all be slitty-eyed.

Remark to Edinburgh University students in Peking, 16 Oct. 1986, in The

Times 17 Oct. 1986

Just at this moment we are suffering a national defeat comparable to any

lost military campaign, and, what is more, it is self-inflicted. I could

use any one of the several stock phrases or platitudes about this. But

I prefer one I picked up during the war. It is brief and to the point:

Gentlemen, I think it is about time we "pulled our fingers out."...If we

want to be more prosperous we've simply got to get down to it and work for

it. The rest of the world does not owe us a living.

Speech in London, 17 Oct. 1961, in Daily Mail 18 Oct. 1961

We now look upon it [the English-Speaking Union] as including those

countries which use English as an inter-Commonwealth language. I include

"pidgin-English" in this even though I am referred to in that splendid

language as "Fella belong Mrs Queen."

Speech to English-Speaking Union, Ottawa, 29 Oct. 1958, in Prince Philip

Speaks (1960) pt. 2, ch. 3

16.35 Morgan Phillips =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1902-1963

The Labour Party owes more to Methodism than to Marxism.

In James Callaghan Time and Chance (1987) ch. 1

16.36 Stephen Phillips =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1864-1915

Behold me now

A man not old, but mellow, like good wine.

Not over-jealous, yet an eager husband.

Ulysses (1902) act 3, sc. 2

16.37 Eden Phillpotts =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1862-1960

Now old man's talk o' the days behind me;

My darter's youngest darter to mind me;

A little dreamin', a little dyin',

A little lew corner of airth to lie in.

Miniatures (1942) "Gaffer's Song"

16.38 Pablo Picasso =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1881-1973

I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.

In John Golding Cubism (1959) p. 60

God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant,

and the cat. He has no real style. He just goes on trying other things.

Remark to Fran�oise Gilot in 1944, in Fran�oise Gilot and Carlton Lake

Life With Picasso (1964) pt. 1

Every positive value has its price in negative terms, and you never see

anything very great which is not, at the same time, horrible in some

respect. The genius of Einstein leads to Hiroshima.

Remark to Fran�oise Gilot in 1946, in Fran�oise Gilot and Carlton Lake

Life With Picasso (1964) pt. 2

We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize

truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand.

In Dore Ashton Picasso on Art (1972) "Two statements by Picasso"

Everyone wants to understand art. Why not try to understand the song of

a bird? Why does one love the night, flowers, everything around one,

without trying to understand them? But in the case of a painting people

have to understand....People who try to explain pictures are usually

barking up the wrong tree.

In Dore Ashton Picasso on Art (1972) "Two statements by Picasso"

16.39 Wilfred Pickles =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1904-

Are yer courtin'?

Catch-phrase in Have a Go! (BBC radio quiz programme, 1946-67)

Give him the money, Barney.

Catch-phrase in Have a Go! (BBC radio quiz programme, 1946-67)

16.40 Harold Pinter =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1930-

"But what would you say your plays were about, Mr Pinter?" "The weasel

under the cocktail cabinet."

In J. Russell Taylor Anger and After (1962) p. 231

I said to this monk, here, I said, look here, mister, he opened the door,

big door, he opened it, look here mister, I said, I showed him these, I

said, you haven't got a pair of shoes, have you, a pair of shoes, I said,

enough to help me on my way. Look at these, they're nearly out, I said,

they're no good to me. I heard you got a stock of shoes here. Piss off, he

said to me.

The Caretaker (1960) act 1

I can't drink Guinness from a thick mug. I only like it out of a thin

glass.

The Caretaker (1960) act 1

If only I could get down to Sidcup! I've been waiting for the weather to

break. He's got my papers, this man I left them with, it's got it all down

there, I could prove everything.

The Caretaker (1960) act 1

16.41 Luigi Pirandello =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1867-1936

Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore.

Six characters in search of an author.

Title of play (1921)

Quando i personaggi son vivi, vivi veramente davanti al loro autore,

questo non fa altro che seguirli nelle parole, nei gesti ch'essi appunto

gli propongono.

When the characters are really alive before their author, the latter does

nothing but follow them in their action, in their words, in the situations

which they suggest to him.

Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore (Six Characters in search of an Author,

1921) in Three Plays (1964) p. 64

16.42 Armand J. Piron =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate,

She shivers like the jelly on a plate.

Shimmy like Kate (1919 song)

16.43 Robert Pirosh, George Seaton, and George Oppenheimer =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

(Feeling patient's pulse): Either he's dead, or my watch has stopped.

A Day at the Races (1937 film; line spoken by Groucho Marx)

Emily, I've a little confession to make. I really am a horse doctor. But

marry me, and I'll never look at any other horse!

A Day at the Races (1937 film; lines spoken by Groucho Marx)

16.44 Robert M. Pirsig =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1928-

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.

Title of book (1974)

16.45 Walter B. Pitkin =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-