The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (61 page)
Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Online
Authors: Elizabeth Knowles
1723–80
The king never dies.
Commentaries on the Laws of England
(1765) bk. 1, ch. 7
The royal navy of England hath ever been its greatest defence and ornament; it is its ancient and natural strength; the floating bulwark of the island.
Commentaries on the Laws of England
(1765) bk. 1, ch. 13.
That the king can do no wrong, is a necessary and fundamental principle of the English constitution.
Commentaries on the Laws of England
(1765) bk. 3, ch. 17
It is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer.
Commentaries on the Laws of England
(1765) bk. 4, ch. 27
1953–
Labour is the party of law and order in Britain today. Tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.
as Shadow Home Secretary
speech at the Labour Party Conference, 30 September 1993
Ask me my three main priorities for Government, and I tell you: education, education and education.
speech at the Labour Party Conference, 1 October 1996
We are not the masters. The people are the masters. We are the servants of the people…What the electorate gives, the electorate can take away.
addressing Labour MPs on the first day of the new Parliament, 7 May 1997
in
Guardian
8 May 1997
She was the People's Princess, and that is how she will stay…in our hearts and in our memories forever.
on hearing of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, 31 August 1997
in
The Times
1 September 1997
1883–1983
If I'd known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.
on reaching the age of 100
in
Observer
13 February 1983 "Sayings of the Week"
1757–1827
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.
"Auguries of Innocence" (
c.
1803) l. 1
A robin red breast in a cage
Puts all Heaven in a rage.
"Auguries of Innocence" (
c.
1803) l. 5
A truth that's told with bad intent
Beats all the lies you can invent.
"Auguries of Innocence" (
c.
1803) l. 53
The strongest poison ever known
Came from Caesar's laurel crown.
"Auguries of Innocence" (
c.
1803) l. 97
The whore and gambler, by the State
Licensed, build that nation's fate.
The harlot's cry from street to street
Shall weave old England's winding sheet.
"Auguries of Innocence" (
c.
1803) l. 113
Can wisdom be put in a silver rod?
Or love in a golden bowl?
The Book of Thel
(1789) plate i "Thel's Motto"
I am sure this Jesus will not do
Either for Englishman or Jew.
The Everlasting Gospel
(
c.
1818) (f) l. 1
Near mournful
Ever weeping Paddington.
Jerusalem
(1815) "Chapter 1" (plate 12, l. 27)
I give you the end of a golden string;
Only wind it into a ball:
It will lead you in at Heaven's gate,
Built in Jerusalem's wall.
Jerusalem
(1815) "To the Christians" (plate 77) "I give you the end of a golden string”
Energy is Eternal Delight.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
(1790–3) "The voice of the Devil"
The reason Milton wrote in fetters when he wrote of Angels and God, and at liberty when of Devils and Hell, is because he was a true Poet, and of the Devil's party without knowing it.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
(1790–3) "The voice of the Devil" (note)
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
(1790–3) "Proverbs of Hell"
If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
(1790–3) "Proverbs of Hell"
Prisons are built with stones of Law, brothels with bricks of Religion.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
(1790–3) "Proverbs of Hell"
The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
(1790–3) "Proverbs of Hell"
If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
(1790–3) "A Memorable Fancy" plate 14
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green and pleasant land.
Milton
(1804–10) preface "And did those feet in ancient time"
The atoms of Democritus
And Newton's particles of light
Are sands upon the Red sea shore,
Where Israel's tents do shine so bright.
MS Note-Book
He who binds to himself a joy
Doth the winged life destroy;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in Eternity's sunrise.
MS Note-Book
"Several Questions Answered"—"He who binds to himself a joy”
What is it men in women do require?
The lineaments of gratified desire.
What is it women do in men require?
The lineaments of gratified desire.
MS Note-Book
"Several Questions Answered"—"What is it men in women do require”
Piping down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child
Songs of Innocence
(1789) introduction
Your chimneys I sweep, and in soot I sleep.
Songs of Innocence
(1789) "The Chimney Sweeper"
For Mercy has a human heart,
Pity a human face,
And Love, the human form divine,
And Peace, the human dress.
Songs of Innocence
(1789) "The Divine Image"
Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door.
Songs of Innocence
(1789) "Holy Thursday"
Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Songs of Innocence
(1789) "The Lamb"
My mother bore me in the southern wild,
And I am black, but O! my soul is white;
White as an angel is the English child:
But I am black as if bereaved of light.
Songs of Innocence
(1789) "The Little Black Boy"
My mother groaned! my father wept.
Into the dangerous world I leapt:
Helpless, naked, piping loud;
Like a fiend hid in a cloud.
Songs of Experience
(1794) "Infant Sorrow"
I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
Songs of Experience
(1794) "A Poison Tree"
In the morning glad I see,
My foe outstretched beneath the tree
Songs of Experience
(1794) "A Poison Tree"
O Rose, thou art sick!
The invisible worm
That flies in the night,
In the howling storm:
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
Songs of Experience
(1794) "The Sick Rose"
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
Songs of Experience
(1794) "The Tiger"
When the stars threw down their spears
And watered heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Songs of Experience
(1794) "The Tiger"
Cruelty has a human heart,
And Jealousy a human face;
Terror the human form divine,
And Secrecy the human dress.
"A Divine Image"; etched but not included in
Songs of Experience
(1794).