The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (416 page)

Sterne, Laurence
1713–68

1
They order, said I, this matter better in France.

A Sentimental Journey
(1768) opening words

2
"Pray, my dear," quoth my mother, "have you not forgot to wind up the clock?"—"Good G—!" cried my father, making an exclamation, but taking care to moderate his voice at the same time,—"Did ever woman, since the creation of the world, interrupt a man with such a silly question?"

Tristram Shandy
(1759–67) bk. 1, ch. 1

3
I should have no objection to this method, but that I think it must smell too strong of the lamp.

Tristram Shandy
(1759–67) bk. 1, ch. 23

4
'Tis better in battle than in bed", said my uncle Toby.
of death

Tristram Shandy
(1759–67) bk. 5, ch. 3

5
There is a North-west passage to the intellectual World.

Tristram Shandy
(1759–67) bk. 5, ch. 42

6
"The poor soul will die:—" "He shall not die, by G—", cried my uncle Toby.—The Accusing Spirit, which flew up to heaven's chancery with the oath, blushed as he gave it in;—and the Recording Angel, as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word, and blotted it out for ever.

Tristram Shandy
(1759–67) bk. 6, ch. 8

7
"A soldier," cried my Uncle Toby, interrupting the corporal, "is no more exempt from saying a foolish thing, Trim, than a man of letters."—"But not so often, an' please your honour," replied the corporal.

Tristram Shandy
(1759–67) bk. 8, ch. 19

8
—d! said my mother, "what is all this story about?"— "A Cock and a Bull," said Yorick.

Tristram Shandy
(1759–67) bk. 9, ch. 33

 
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Stevens, Brooks
1911–

1
Our whole economy is based on planned obsolescence.

Vance Packard
The Waste Makers
(1960) ch. 6

 
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Stevens, Wallace
1879–1955

1
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

"The Emperor of Ice-Cream" (1923)

2
Frogs Eat Butterflies. Snakes Eat Frogs. Hogs Eat Snakes. Men Eat Hogs.

title of poem (1923)

3
Poetry is the supreme fiction, madame.

"A High-Toned old Christian Woman" (1923)

4
They said, "You have a blue guitar,
You do not play things as they are."
The man replied, "Things as they are
Are changed upon the blue guitar."

"The Man with the Blue Guitar" (1937)

5
I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes,
The blackbird whistling
Or just after.

"Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" (1923)

 
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Stevenson, Adlai
1900–65

1
I suppose flattery hurts no one, that is, if he doesn't inhale.

television broadcast, 30 March 1952

2
Let's talk sense to the American people. Let's tell them the truth, that there are no gains without pains.

speech of acceptance at the Democratic National Convention, Chicago, 26 July 1952

3
In America any boy may become President and I suppose it's just one of the risks he takes!

speech in Indianapolis, 26 September 1952

4
The young man who asks you to set him one heart-beat from the Presidency of the United States.
of Richard Nixon as Vice-Presidential nominee

speech at Cleveland, Ohio, 23 October 1952

5
We hear the Secretary of State boasting of his brinkmanship—the art of bringing us to the edge of the abyss.

speech in Hartford, Connecticut, 25 February 1956; see

6
She would rather light a candle than curse the darkness, and her glow has warmed the world.
of Eleanor Roosevelt

in
New York Times
8 November 1962

 
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Stevenson, Anne
1933–

1
Blackbirds are the cellos of the deep farms.

"Green Mountain, Black Mountain" (1982)

 
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