The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

‘Mr Sponge’s Sporting Tour’ (1853) ch. 31
7.189 David Sutton
Sorrow in all lands, and grievous omens.
Great anger in the dragon of the hills,
And silent now the earth’s green oracles
That will not speak again of innocence.
‘Settlements’ (1991)
7.190 Hannen Swaffer 1879-1962
Freedom of the press in Britain means freedom to print such of the proprietor’s prejudices as
the advertisers don’t object to.
In Tom Driberg ‘Swaff’ (1974) ch. 2
7.191 Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
I conceive some scattered notions about a superior power to be of singular use for the common
people, as furnishing excellent materials to keep children quiet when they grow peevish, and
providing topics of amusement in a tedious winter-night.
‘An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity’ (1708)
Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their
own.
‘The Battle of the Books’ (1704) preface
Instead of dirt and poison we have rather chosen to fill our hives with honey and wax; thus
furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light.
‘The Battle of the Books’ (1704) preface.
Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.
‘A Critical Essay upon the Faculties of the Mind’ (1709).
There is nothing in this world constant, but inconstancy.
‘A Critical Essay upon the Faculties of the Mind’ (1709)
I have heard of a man who had a mind to sell his house, and therefore carried a piece of brick
in his pocket, which he shewed as a pattern to encourage purchasers.
‘The Drapier’s Letters’ (1724) no. 2 (4 August 1724)
He [the emperor] is taller by almost the breadth of my nail than any of his court, which alone is
enough to strike an awe into the beholders.
‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to Lilliput’ ch. 2
He put this engine [a watch] to our ears, which made an incessant noise like that of a watermill;
and we conjecture it is either some unknown animal, or the god that he worships; but we are
more inclined to the latter opinion.
‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to Lilliput’ ch. 2
It is alleged indeed, that the high heels are most agreeable to our ancient constitution: but