England Quotes - Page 33

• Norway, too, has noble prospects; and Lapland is remarkable for prodigious noble wild prospects. But, Sir, let me tell you, the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England!

  Samuel Johnson

  Noble, Lapland, Norway

  In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 1, p. 425 (6 July 1763)

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• That monstrous tuberosity of civilised life, the capital of England.

  Thomas Carlyle

  London, Civilised, Monstrous

  Thomas Carlyle (1831). “Sartor Resartus: The life and opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh in three books: By Thomas Carlyle”, p.167

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• Oh England is a pleasant place for them that's rich and high,
  But England is a cruel place for such poor folks as I

  Charles Kingsley

  Wealth, Rich, Poor

  Charles Kingsley (1872). “Poems: Including The Saint's Tragedy, Andromeda, Songs, Ballads, Etc”, p.230

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• Art is for [the Irish] inseparable from artifice: of that, the theatre is the home. Possibly, it was England made me a novelist.

  Elizabeth Bowen

  Art, Home, Theatre

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• We can trace almost all the disasters of English history to the influence of Wales.

  Evelyn Waugh

  English History, Influence, Disaster

  'Decline and Fall' (1928) pt. 1, ch. 8

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• In England if something goes wrong--say, if one finds a skunk in the garden--he writes to the family solicitor, who proceeds to take the proper measures; whereas in America, you telephone the fire department. Each satisfies a characteristic need; in the English, love of order and legalistic procedure; and here in America, what you like is something vivid, and red, and swift.

  Alfred North Whitehead

  Writing, Garden, Order

  Alfred North Whitehead, Lucien Price (2001). “Dialogues of Alfred North Whitehead”, p.164, David R. Godine Publisher

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• William Congreve is the only sophisticated playwright England has produced; and like Shaw, Sheridan, and Wilde, his nearest rivals, he was brought up in Ireland.

  Kenneth Tynan

  Rivals, Sophisticated, Wilde

  Kenneth Tynan (1961). “Curtains: Selections from the Drama Criticism and Related Writings”

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• It's such a surprise for the Eastern eyes to see,
  That though the English are effete
  They're quite impervious to heat.

  Noel Coward

  Eye, Heat, Surprise

  Noel Coward, Barry Day (2009). “The Essential Noël Coward Compendium: The Very Best of His Work, Life and Times”, p.178, A&C Black

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• Living in England has no such excuse:
  These are my customs and establishments.

  Philip Larkin

  Home, Excuse, Establishment

  Philip Larkin (2012). “The Whitsun Weddings”, p.32, Faber & Faber

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• Most English talk is a quadrille in a sentry-box.

  Henry James

  Boxes, Conversation

  'The Awkward Age' (1899) bk. 5, ch. 19

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• England still will be here without you.

  Alan Jay Lerner

  Without You, Stills, Permanence

  "Without You" (song) (1956)

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• It has been said that England invented the phrase, 'Her Majesty's Opposition'.

  Walter Bagehot

  Phrases, Majesty, Said

  'The English Constitution' (1867) 'The Cabinet'

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• The best sun we have is made of Newcastle coal, and I am determined never to reckon upon any other.

  Horace Walpole

  Coal, Fuel, Sun

  Horace Walpole, George Montagu (1837). “The Correspondence of Horace Walpole, with George Montagu, Esq., [and Others].: 1760-1769”, p.407

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• Nelson's famous signal before the Battle of Trafalgar was not: "England expects that every man will be a hero." It said: "Englandexpects that every man will do his duty." In 1805 that was enough. It should still be.

  Johan Huizinga

  Hero, Men, Battle

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• My books have sold largely in England, have been translated into many languages, and passed through several editions in foreign countries. I have heard it said that the success of a work abroad is the best test of its enduring value. I doubt whether this is at all trustworthy; but judged by this standard my name ought to last for a few years.

  Charles Darwin

  Country, Book, Years

  Charles Darwin (2010). “The Works of Charles Darwin, Volume 29: “Erasmus Darwin” by Ernest Krause, with a Preliminary Notice by Charles Darwin; “The Autobiography of Charles Darwin” Edited by Nora Barlow; and Consolidated Index”, p.159, NYU Press

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• And I profess still, that whatsoever the church of England (the church, I say, not every doctor) shall forbid me to say in matterof faith, I shall abstain from saying it, excepting this point, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for my sins. As for other doctrines, I think it unlawful, if the church define them, for any member of the church to contradict them.

  Thomas Hobbes

  Jesus, Son, Thinking

  Thomas Hobbes, Thucydides, Homer (1840). “The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury”, p.367

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• There being in the make of an English mind a certain gloom and eagerness, which carries to the sad extreme; religion to fanaticism; free-thinking to atheism; liberty to rebellion.

  George Berkeley

  Sad, Thinking, Mind

  George Berkeley, Alexander Campbell Fraser (1732). “The Works of George Berkeley, D.D., Formerly Bishop of Cloyne: Philosophical works, 1732-33: Alciphron. The theory of vision”, p.142

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• Here in England the welfare of the State depends on the conduct of our aristocracy.

  Anthony Trollope

  Aristocracy, Politics, Welfare

  Anthony Trollope (1874). “Lady Anna”, p.292

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• English audiences of working people are like an instrument that responds to the player. Thought ripples up and down them, and if in some heart the speaker strikes a dissonance there is a swift answer. Always the voice speaks from gallery or pit, the terrible voice which detaches itself in every English crowd, full of caustic wit, full of irony or, maybe, approval.

  Mary Heaton Vorse

  Heart, Player, Voice

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• Our fathers waged a bloody conflict with England, because they were taxed without being represented. This is just what unmarried women of property are now.

  Angelina Grimke

  Father, Conflict, Taxes

  Sarah Grimke, Angelina Grimke (2015). “On Slavery and Abolitionism: Essays and Letters”, p.188, Penguin

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• Check out my web site, wtp.org, to see what fast food did to 2 people in England.

  Jerry Brown

  People, Vegetarian, Fast Food

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• [T]ea, that uniquely English meal, that unnecessary collation at which no stimulants--neither alcohol nor meat--are served, that comforting repast of which to partake is as good as second childhood.

  Angela Carter

  Childhood, Alcohol, Comforting

  Angela Carter (1993). “Expletives Deleted: Selected Writings”, Vintage Books

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• In England, I was quite struck to see how forward the girls are made--a child of 10 years old, will chat and keep you company, while her parents are busy or out etc.--with the ease of a woman of 26. But then, how does this education go on?--Not at all: it absolutely stops short.

  Fanny Burney

  Girl, Education, Children

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• When the English have scored a goal, they think nothing more remains to be done.

  Jose Bergamin

  Sports, Thinking, Goal

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• To the Japanese, Portugal and Russia are neutral enemies, England and America are belligerent enemies, and Germany and her satellites are friendly enemies. They draw very fine distinctions.

  Jerome Cady

  England And America, Russia, Enemy

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