The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

3.12 Charles Alexandre de Calonne 1734-1802
Madame, si c’est possible, c’est fait; impossible? cela se fera.
Madam, if a thing is possible, consider it done; the impossible? that will be done.
In J. Michelet ‘Histoire de la Rèvolution Française’ (1847) vol. 1, pt. 2, sect. 8; better known as the US
Armed Forces slogan, ‘The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer.’
3.13 C. S. Calverley 1831-84
The farmer’s daughter hath soft brown hair;
(Butter and eggs and a pound of cheese)
And I met with a ballad, I can’t say where,
Which wholly consisted of lines like these.
‘Ballad’ (1872)
And this song is considered a perfect gem,
And as to the meaning, it’s what you please.
‘Ballad’ (1872)
O Beer! O Hodgson, Guinness, Allsopp, Bass!
Names that should be on every infant’s tongue!
‘Beer’ (1861)
Life is with such all beer and skittles;
They are not difficult to please
About their victuals.
‘Contentment’ (1872)
For king-like rolls the Rhine,
And the scenery’s divine,
And the victuals and the wine
Rather good.
‘Dover to Munich’ (1861)
For I’ve read in many a novel that, unless they’ve souls that grovel,
Folks prefer in fact a hovel to your dreary marble halls.
‘In the Gloaming’ (1872)
How Eugene Aram, though a thief, a liar, and a murderer,
Yet, being intellectual, was amongst the noblest of mankind.
‘Of Reading’ (1861)
3.14 General Cambronne 1770-1842
La Garde meurt, mais ne se rend pas.
The Guards die but do not surrender.
Attributed to Cambronne when called upon to surrender at Waterloo, 1815, and reported in the newspapers.
Cambronne denied the saying at a banquet at Nantes, 19 September 1830. H. Houssaye ‘La Garde meurt et ne
se rend pas’ (1907)