The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (103 page)
Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Online
Authors: Elizabeth Knowles
1630–85
I am sure no man in England will take away my life to make you King.
to his brother James
William King
Political & Literary Anecdotes
(1818)
It is upon the navy under the good Providence of God that the safety, honour, and welfare of this realm do chiefly depend.
"Articles of War" preamble (probably a popular paraphrase); Geoffrey Callender
The Naval Side of British History
(1952) pt. 1, ch. 8
This is very true: for my words are my own, and my actions are my ministers'.
reply to Lord Rochester's epitaph on him
Thomas Hearne: Remarks and Collections
(1885–1921) 17 November 1706; see
He had been, he said, an unconscionable time dying; but he hoped that they would excuse it.
Lord Macaulay
History of England
(1849) vol. 1, ch. 4
Let not poor Nelly starve.
referring to Nell Gwyn, his mistress
Bishop Gilbert Burnet
History of My Own Time
(1724) vol. 1, bk. 3
1500–58
To God I speak Spanish, to women Italian, to men French, and to my horse—German.
attributed; Lord Chesterfield
Letters to his Son
, Prince of Wales 1948–
when asked if he was "in love":
Yes…whatever that may mean.
after the announcement of his engagement
interview, 24 February 1981.
A monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.
on the proposed extension to the National Gallery
speech to the Royal Institute of British Architects, 30 May 1984.
1541–1603
The true science and study of man is man.
De la Sagesse
(1601) bk. 1, preface.
c.
1343–1400
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 1
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
(So priketh hem nature in hir corages),
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 9
He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 72
He was as fressh as is the month of May.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 92
And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 124
And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
And after
Amor vincit omnia
.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 160.
A Clerk there was of Oxenford also.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 285
Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 460
But Cristes loore and his apostels twelve
He taughte; but first he folwed it hymselve.
The Canterbury Tales
"The General Prologue" l. 527
Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye.
When maistrie comth, the God of Love anon
Beteth his wynges, and farewel, he is gon!
The Canterbury Tales
"The Franklin's Tale" l. 764
The bisy larke, messager of day.
The Canterbury Tales
"The Knight's Tale" l. 1491
The smylere with the knyf under the cloke.
The Canterbury Tales
"The Knight's Tale" l. 1999
Mordre wol out; that se we day by day.
The Canterbury Tales
"The Nun's Priest's Tale" l. 3052
"By God," quod he, "for pleynly, at a word,
Thy drasty rymyng is nat worth a toord!"
The Canterbury Tales
"Sir Thopas" l. 929
Yblessed be god that I have wedded fyve!
Welcome the sixte, whan that evere he shal.
The Canterbury Tales
"The Wife of Bath's Prologue" l. 44
A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl.
The Canterbury Tales
"The Wife of Bath's Prologue" l. 466
But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.
Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel.
The Canterbury Tales
"The Wife of Bath's Prologue" l. 602
Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee
As wel over hir housbond as hir love.
The Canterbury Tales
"The Wife of Bath's Tale" l. 1038
Farewel my bok and my devocioun!
The Legend of Good Women
"The Prologue" l. 39
And she was fayr as is the rose in May.
The Legend of Good Women
"Cleopatra" l. 613
That lyf so short,
the craft so long to lerne.
The Parliament of Fowls
l. 1.
For I have seyn of a ful misty morwe
Folowen ful ofte a myrie someris day.
Troilus and Criseyde
bk. 3, l. 1060
For of fortunes sharpe adversitee
The worst kynde of infortune is this,
A man to han ben in prosperitee,
And it remembren, whan it passed is.
Troilus and Criseyde
bk. 3, l. 1625.
Ye, fare wel al the snow of ferne yere!
Troilus and Criseyde
bk. 5, l. 1176
Go, litel bok, go, litel myn tragedye.
Troilus and Criseyde
bk. 5, l. 1786.
O yonge, fresshe folkes, he or she,
In which that love up groweth with youre age.
Troilus and Criseyde
bk. 5, l. 1835
O moral Gower, this book I directe
To the.
Troilus and Criseyde
bk. 5, l. 1856
