The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (33 page)

Beaumont, Francis
1584–1616 and
Fletcher, John
1579–1625

1
Those have most power to hurt us that we love.

The Maid's Tragedy
(written 1610–11) act 5

2
There is no other purgatory but a woman.

The Scornful Lady
(1616) act 3

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Beaverbrook, Lord
(
Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook
) 1879–1964

1
Now who is responsible for this work of development on which so much depends? To whom must the praise be given? To the boys in the back rooms. They do not sit in the limelight. But they are the men who do the work.

in
Listener
27 March 1941

2
With the publication of his Private Papers in 1952, he committed suicide 25 years after his death.
of Earl Haig

Men and Power
(1956)

3
Our cock won't fight.
to Winston Churchill of Edward VIII, during the abdication crisis of 1936

Frances Donaldson
Edward VIII
(1974) ch. 22

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Beckett, Samuel
1906–89

1
One of the thieves was saved. (
Pause
) It's a reasonable percentage.

Waiting for Godot
(1955) act 1

2
estragon
: Charming spot. Inspiring prospects. Let's go.
vladimir
: We can't.
estragon
: Why not?
vladimir
: We're waiting for Godot.

Waiting for Godot
(1955) act 1

3
Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful!

Waiting for Godot
(1955) act 1

4
They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.

Waiting for Godot
(1955) act 2

5
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

Worstward Ho
(1983)

6
I am what her savage loving has made me.
of his mother

James Knowlson
Damned to Fame
(1996)

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Beddoes, Thomas Lovell
1803–49

1
If there were dreams to sell,
What would you buy?

"Dream-Pedlary" (written 1830, published 1851)

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Bede, The Venerable
ad
673–735

1
"Such," he said, "O King, seems to me the present life of men on earth, in comparison with that time which to us is uncertain, as if when on a winter's night you sit feasting with your ealdormen and thegns,—a single sparrow should fly swiftly into the hall, and coming in at one door, instantly fly out through another. In that time in which it is indoors it is indeed not touched by the fury of the winter, but yet, this smallest space of calmness being passed almost in a flash, from winter going into winter again, it is lost to your eyes. Somewhat like this appears the life of man; but of what follows or what went before, we are utterly ignorant."

Ecclesiastical History of the English People
(tr. B. Colgrave, 1969) bk. 2, ch. 13

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Bedford, Harry
and
Sullivan, Terry

1
I'm a bit of a ruin that Cromwell knocked about a bit.

"It's a Bit of a Ruin that Cromwell Knocked about a Bit" (1920 song; written for Marie Lloyd)

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search