The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (182 page)
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Authors: Elizabeth Knowles
1865–1936
I venture to allude to the impression which seemed generally to prevail among their brethren across the seas, that the Old Country must wake up if she intends to maintain her old position of pre-eminence in her Colonial trade against foreign competitors.
speech at Guildhall, 5 December 1901, reprinted in 1911 under the title "Wake up, England"
I pray that my coming to Ireland today may prove to be the first step towards an end of strife among her people, whatever their race or creed. In that hope I appeal to all Irishmen to pause, to stretch out the hand of forbearance and conciliation, to forgive and forget, and to join with me in making for the land they love a new era of peace, contentment and goodwill.
speech to the new Ulster Parliament at Stormont, 22 June 1921
I have many times asked myself whether there can be more potent advocates of peace upon earth through the years to come than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war.
message read at Terlincthun Cemetery, Boulogne, 13 May 1922
After I am dead, the boy will ruin himself in twelve months.
of his son, the future Edward VIII
Keith Middlemas and John Barnes
Baldwin
(1969) ch. 34
on H. G. Wells's comment on "an alien and uninspiring court":
I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm an alien!
Sarah Bradford
George VI
(1989); attributed
Bugger Bognor.
on his deathbed in 1936, when someone remarked "Cheer up, your Majesty, you will soon be at Bognor again"; alternatively, a comment made in 1929, when it was proposed that the town be named Bognor Regis on account of the king's convalescence there after a serious illness
probably apocryphal; Kenneth Rose
King George V
(1983) ch. 9
How's the Empire?
said to his private secretary on the morning of his death
letter from Lord Wigram, 31 January 1936
1895–1952
I feel happier now that we have no allies to be polite to and to pamper.
to Queen Mary, 27 June 1940
Abroad is bloody.
W. H. Auden
A Certain World
(1970) "Royalty".
The family firm.
description of the British monarchy
attributed
O Freedom, what liberties are taken in thy name!
The Perpetual Pessimist
(1963)
c.
1829–1909
Once I moved about like the wind. Now I surrender to you and that is all.
surrendering to General Crook, 25 March 1886
1896–1983
I don't think I'll fall in love today.
title of song (1928, from
Treasure Girl
)
I got rhythm.
title of song (1930, from
Girl Crazy
)
In time the Rockies may crumble,
Gibraltar may tumble,
They're only made of clay,
But our love is here to stay.
"Love is Here to Stay" (1938 song) in
The Goldwyn Follies
Holding hands at midnight
'Neath a starry sky,
Nice work if you can get it,
And you can get it if you try.
"Nice Work If You Can Get It" (1937 song) in
Damsel in Distress