The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

good acts.
‘Les Caves du Vatican’ (1914) bk. 4, ch. 7
Hugo—hèlas!
Hugo—alas!
When asked who was the greatest 19th-century poet, in Claude Martin ‘La Maturitè d’Andrè Gide’ (1977) p.
502
Not enough dirt.
His comment on Switzerland (attributed)
7.43 Sir Humphrey Gilbert c.1539-83
We are as near to heaven by sea as by land!
In Richard Hakluyt ‘The Third and Last Volume of the Voyages...of the English Nation’ (1600) p. 159.
7.44 W. S. Gilbert 1836-1911
Then they began to sing That extremely lovely thing, ‘Scherzando! ma non troppo ppp.’
‘The ‘Bab’ Ballads’ (1869) ‘Story of Prince Agib’
That celebrated,
Cultivated,
Underrated
Nobleman,
The Duke of Plaza Toro!
‘The Gondoliers’ (1889) act 1
Of that there is no manner of doubt—
No probable, possible shadow of doubt—
No possible doubt whatever.
‘The Gondoliers’ (1889) act 1
All shall equal be.
The Earl, the Marquis, and the Dook,
The Groom, the Butler, and the Cook,
The Aristocrat who banks with Coutts,
The Aristocrat who cleans the boots.
‘The Gondoliers’ (1889) act 1
But the privilege and pleasure
That we treasure beyond measure
Is to run on little errands for the Ministers of State.
‘The Gondoliers’ (1889) act 2
Take a pair of sparkling eyes,
Hidden, ever and anon,
In a merciful eclipse.
‘The Gondoliers’ (1889) act 2