The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (366 page)

Richelieu, Duc de
1585–1642

1
If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.

attributed

 
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Richter, Hans
1843–1916

1
Up with your damned nonsense will I put twice, or perhaps once, but sometimes always, by God, never.

attributed

 
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Richter, Johann Paul Friedrich
(
"Jean Paul"
) 1763–1825

1
Providence has given to the French the empire of the land, to the English that of the sea, and to the Germans that of—the air!

Thomas Carlyle "Jean Paul Friedrich Richter" in
Edinburgh Review
no. 91 (1827)

 
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Ridley, Nicholas
1929–93

1
of the European community:
This is all a German racket, designed to take over the whole of Europe.

in
Spectator
14 July 1990

 
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1
Whence this creation has arisen—perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not—the one who looks down on it, in the highest heaven, only he knows—or perhaps he does not know.

Creation Hymn
bk. 10, hymn 129, v. 7

2
When they divided the Man, into how many parts did they apportion him? What did they call his mouth, his two arms and thighs and feet?
His mouth became the Brahman; his arms were made into the Warrior, his thighs the People, and from his feet the Servants were born.

Hymn of Man
bk. 10, hymn 190, v. 11

 
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Rilke, Rainer Maria
1875–1926

1
So leben wir und nehmen immer Abschied.
We live our lives, for ever taking leave.

Duineser Elegien
(tr. J. B. Leishman and Stephen Spender, 1948) no. 8

2
Wir haben, wo wir lieben, ja nur dies:
einander lassen; denn dass wir uns halten,
das fällt uns leicht und ist nicht erst zu lernen.
We need in love to practise only this:
letting each other go. For holding on
comes easily; we do not need to learn it.

Requiem für eine Freundin
("Requiem for a Friend")

 
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