The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (410 page)

Southwell, Robert
c.
1561–95

1
As I in hoary winter night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised was I with sudden heat which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near
A pretty Babe all burning bright did in the air appear.

"The Burning Babe" (
c.
1590)

 
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Spark, Muriel
1918–

1
I am a hoarder of two things: documents and trusted friends.

Curriculum Vitae
(1992)

2
I am putting old heads on your young shoulders…all my pupils are the crème de la crème.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
(1961) ch. 1

3
One's prime is elusive. You little girls, when you grow up, must be on the alert to recognise your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
(1961) ch. 1

 
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Sparrow, John
1906–92

1
That indefatigable and unsavoury engine of pollution, the dog.

letter to
The Times
30 September 1975

 
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Spencer, Herbert
1820–1903

1
Science is organized knowledge.

Education
(1861) ch. 2

2
People are beginning to see that the first requisite to success in life is to be a good animal.

Education
(1861) ch. 2

3
Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.

Essays
(1891) vol. 3 "Prison Ethics"

4
This survival of the fittest which I have here sought to express in mechanical terms, is that which Mr Darwin has called "natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life.

Principles of Biology
(1865) pt. 3, ch. 12.

5
A clever theft was praiseworthy amongst the Spartans; and it is equally so amongst Christians, provided it be on a sufficiently large scale.

Social Statics
(1850) pt. 2, ch. 16, sect. 3

 
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Spencer, Lord
1964–

1
Every proprietor and editor of every publication that has paid for intrusive and exploitative photographs of her…has blood on their hands today.
on the death of his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car crash while being pursued by photographers, 31 August 1997

in
Daily Telegraph
1 September 1997

2
She needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic.
tribute at the funeral of his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, 7 September 1997

in
Guardian
8 September 1997

 
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Spencer, Raine, Countess
1929–

1
Alas, for our towns and cities. Monstrous carbuncles of concrete have erupted in gentle Georgian Squares.

The Spencers on Spas
(1983) p. 14.

 
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