The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (326 page)
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Authors: Elizabeth Knowles
1801–90
Two and two only supreme and luminously self-evident beings, myself and my Creator.
Apologia pro Vita Sua
(1864) "History of My Religious Opinions to the Year 1833"
Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.
Apologia pro Vita Sua
(1864) "Position of my Mind since 1845"
It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say that he is one who never inflicts pain.
The Idea of a University
(1852) "Knowledge and Religious Duty"
She [the Catholic Church] holds that it were better for sun and moon to drop from heaven, for the earth to fail, and for all the many millions who are upon it to die of starvation in extremest agony, as far as temporal affliction goes, than that one soul, I will not say, should be lost, but should commit one single venial sin.
Lectures on Anglican Difficulties
(1852) Lecture 8
If I am obliged to bring religion into after-dinner toasts (which indeed does not seem quite the thing) I shall drink—to the Pope, if you please—still, to Conscience first, and to the Pope afterwards.
A Letter Addressed to the Duke of Norfolk…
(1875) sect. 5
May He support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done! Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last.
"Wisdom and Innocence" (19 February 1843)
Firmly I believe and truly
God is Three, and God is One;
And I next acknowledge duly
Manhood taken by the Son.
The Dream of Gerontius
(1865)
Praise to the Holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all his words most wonderful,
Most sure in all His ways.
The Dream of Gerontius
(1865)
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on.
"Lead, kindly Light" (1834)
We can believe what we choose
. We are answerable for what we choose to believe.
letter to Mrs William Froude, 27 June 1848
Cor ad cor loquitur.Heart speaks to heart.
motto of Newman.
1942–
I suggested [in 1966] that we use the panther as our symbol and call our political vehicle the Black Panther Party. The panther is a fierce animal, but he will not attack until he is backed into a corner; then he will strike out.
Revolutionary Suicide
(1973) ch. 16
1642–1727
Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a right line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.
Principia Mathematica
(1687) Laws of Motion 1 (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729)
To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction: or, the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal, and directed to contrary parts.
Principia Mathematica
(1687) Laws of Motion 3 (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729)
Hypotheses non fingo.I do not feign hypotheses.
Principia Mathematica
(1713 ed.) "Scholium Generale"
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
letter to Robert Hooke, 5 February 1676
I don't know what I may seem to the world, but as to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.
Joseph Spence
Anecdotes
(ed. J. Osborn, 1966) no. 1259
O Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest the mischief done!
to a dog, who knocked over a candle which set fire to some papers and thereby "destroyed the almost finished labours of some years"
Thomas Maude
Wensley-Dale…a Poem
(1772) st. 23 n.; probably apocryphal
1725–1807
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
Olney Hymns
(1779) "Amazing grace"
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
Olney Hymns
(1779) "Glorious things of thee are spoken"
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
Olney Hymns
(1779) "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds"
1796–1855
Turkey is a dying man. We may endeavour to keep him alive, but we shall not succeed. He will, he must die.
F. Max Müller (ed.)
Memoirs of Baron Stockmar
(tr. G. A. M. Müller, 1873) vol. 2
Russia has two generals in whom she can confide—Generals Janvier [January] and Février [February].
attributed; in
Punch
10 March 1855