The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

Life is one long process of getting tired.
‘Notebooks’ (1912) ch. 1
All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live
beyond its income.
‘Notebooks’ (1912) ch. 1
The history of art is the history of revivals.
‘Notebooks’ (1912) ch. 8
An apology for the Devil: It must be remembered that we have only heard one side of the case.
God has written all the books.
‘Notebooks’ (1912) ch. 14
A definition is the enclosing a wilderness of idea within a wall of words.
‘Notebooks’ (1912) ch. 14
To live is like to love—all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it.
‘Notebooks’ (1912) ch. 14
The public buys its opinions as it buys its meat, or takes in its milk, on the principle that it is
cheaper to do this than to keep a cow. So it is, but the milk is more likely to be watered.
‘Notebooks’ (1912) ch. 17
An honest God’s the noblest work of man.
‘Further Extracts from Notebooks’ (1934) p. 26.
The three most important things a man has are, briefly, his private parts, his money, and his
religious opinions.
‘Further Extracts from Notebooks’ (1934) p. 93
Jesus! with all thy faults I love thee still.
‘Further Extracts from Notebooks’ (1934) p. 117
Conscience is thoroughly well-bred and soon leaves off talking to those who do not wish to
hear it.
‘Further Extracts from Notebooks’ (1934) p. 279
Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.
Speech at the Somerville Club, 27 February 1895, in R. A. Streatfield ‘Essays on Life, Art and
Science’ (1904) p. 69
Dusty, cobweb-covered, maimed, and set at naught,
Beauty crieth in an attic, and no man regardeth.
O God! O Montreal!
‘Psalm of Montreal’, in ‘Spectator’ 18 May 1878
Yet meet we shall, and part, and meet again
Where dead men meet, on lips of living men.
‘Athenaeum’ 4 January 1902
2.270 William Butler 1535-1618
Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did.