The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (58 page)
Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Online
Authors: Elizabeth Knowles
Psalm 126, v. 1 (Psalm 127, v. 1 in the Authorized Version ,
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine; Domine, exaudi vocem meam.
Up from the depths I have cried to thee, Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
Psalm 129, v. 1 (Psalm 130, v. 1 in the Authorized Version)
Vanitas vanitatum, dixit Ecclesiastes; vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas.
Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; vanity of vanities, and everything is vanity.
Ecclesiastes ch. 1, v. 2
Rorate, coeli, desuper, et nubes pluant Justum; aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.
Drop down dew, heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth be opened, and a saviour spring to life.
Isaiah ch. 45, v. 8
Benedicite, omnia opera Domini, Domino; laudate et superexaltate eum in secula.
Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord; praise him and exalt him above all things for ever.
Daniel ch. 3, v. 57
Magnificat anima mea Dominum; Et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
St Luke ch. 1, v. 46.
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word.
St Luke ch. 2, v. 29
Pax Vobis.
Peace be unto you.
St Luke ch. 24, v. 36
Quo vadis?
Where are you going?
St John ch. 16, v. 5
Ecce homo.
Behold the man.
St John ch. 19, v. 5
Consummatum est.
It is achieved.
St John ch. 19, v. 30
Noli me tangere.
Do not touch me.
St John ch. 20, v. 17
Magna est veritas, et praevalet.
Great is truth, and it prevails.
III Esdras ch. 4, v. 41 ,
1733–1808
Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love,
But—why did you kick me downstairs?
"An Expostulation" (1789)
I care for nobody, not I,
If no one cares for me.
Love in a Village
(a comic opera with music by Thomas Arne, 1762) act 1, sc. 2
1825–1906
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The Blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Songs in the House of Pilgrimage
(1875) "Peace, perfect peace"
1842–1914
alliance
,
n
. In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other's pocket that they cannot separately plunder a third.
The Cynic's Word Book
(1906)
battle
,
n
. A method of untying with the teeth a political knot that would not yield to the tongue.
The Cynic's Word Book
(1906)
history
,
n
. An account, mostly false, of events, mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.
The Cynic's Word Book
(1906)
peace
,
n
. In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.
The Devil's Dictionary
(1911)
1946–77
The liberal must understand that the days of the Noble Savage are gone; that the blacks do not need a go-between in this struggle for their own emancipation. No true liberal should feel any resentment at the growth of black consciousness.
"Black Souls in White Skins?" (written 1970), in
Steve Biko—I Write What I Like
(1978).