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The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

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however this be, his Majesty hath determined to make use <strong>of</strong> only low heels in the administration<br />

<strong>of</strong> the government.<br />

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to Lilliput’ ch. 4<br />

I cannot but conclude the bulk <strong>of</strong> your natives to be the most pernicious race <strong>of</strong> little odious<br />

vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface <strong>of</strong> the earth.<br />

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to Brobdingnag’ ch. 6<br />

And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears <strong>of</strong> corn or two blades <strong>of</strong><br />

grass to grow upon a spot <strong>of</strong> ground where only one grew before, would deserve better <strong>of</strong><br />

mankind, and do more essential service to his country than the whole race <strong>of</strong> politicians put<br />

together.<br />

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to Brobdingnag’ ch. 7<br />

He had been eight years upon a project for extracting sun-beams out <strong>of</strong> cucumbers, which were<br />

to be put into vials hermetically sealed, and let out to warm the air in raw inclement summers.<br />

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to Laputa, etc.’ ch. 5<br />

<strong>The</strong>se unhappy people were proposing schemes for persuading monarchs to choose favourites<br />

upon the score <strong>of</strong> their wisdom, capacity and virtue; <strong>of</strong> teaching ministers to consult the public<br />

good; <strong>of</strong> rewarding merit, great abilities and eminent services; <strong>of</strong> instructing princes to know their<br />

true interest by placing it on the same foundation with that <strong>of</strong> their people: <strong>of</strong> choosing for<br />

employment persons qualified to exercise them; with many other wild impossible chimeras, that<br />

never entered before into the heart <strong>of</strong> man to conceive, and confirmed in me the old observation,<br />

that there is nothing so extravagant and irrational which some philosophers have not maintained<br />

for truth.<br />

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to Laputa, etc.’ ch. 6<br />

He replied that I must needs be mistaken, or that I said the thing which was not. (For they have<br />

no word in their language to express lying or falsehood).<br />

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms’ ch. 3<br />

I told him...that we ate when we were not hungry, and drank without the provocation <strong>of</strong> thirst.<br />

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (1726) ‘A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms’ ch. 6<br />

We are so fond <strong>of</strong> one another, because our ailments are the same.<br />

‘Journal to Stella’ (published in ‘Works’, 1768) 1 February 1711<br />

Will she pass in a crowd? Will she make a figure in a country church?<br />

‘Journal to Stella’ (published in ‘Works’, 1768) 9 February 1711<br />

I love good creditable acquaintance; I love to be the worst <strong>of</strong> the company.<br />

‘Journal to Stella’ (published in ‘Works’, 1768) 17 May 1711<br />

He showed me his bill <strong>of</strong> fare to tempt me to dine with him; poh, said I, I value not your bill <strong>of</strong><br />

fare, give me your bill <strong>of</strong> company.<br />

‘Journal to Stella’ (published in ‘Works’, 1768) 2 September 1711<br />

We were to do more business after dinner; but after dinner is after dinner—an old saying and a<br />

true, ‘much drinking, little thinking’.<br />

‘Journal to Stella’ (published in ‘Works’, 1768) 26 February 1712

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