The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

The road up and the road down are one and the same.
In H. Diels and W. Krauz ‘Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker’ (7th ed., 1954) fragment 60
8.82 A. P. Herbert 1890-1971
Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight, For mother will be there.
‘Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight’ (1926)
Don’t tell my mother I’m living in sin, Don’t let the old folks know.
‘Don’t Tell My Mother I’m Living in Sin’ (1925)
The Farmer will never be happy again;
He carries his heart in his boots;
For either the rain is destroying his grain
Or the drought is destroying his roots.
‘The Farmer’ (1922)
As my poor father used to say
In 1863,
Once people start on all this Art
Goodbye, moralitee!
‘Lines for a Worthy Person’ (1930)
Other people’s babies—
That’s my life!
Mother to dozens,
And nobody’s wife.
‘Other People’s Babies’ (1930) (also a 1934 song, with music by Vivian Ellis)
This high official, all allow,
Is grossly overpaid;
There wasn’t any Board, and now
There isn’t any Trade.
‘The President of the Board of Trade’ (1922)
Nothing is wasted, nothing is in vain:
The seas roll over but the rocks remain.
‘Tough at the Top’ (operetta c.1949)
Holy deadlock.
Title of novel (1934)
People must not do things for fun. We are not here for fun. There is no reference to fun in any
Act of Parliament.
‘Uncommon Law’ (1935) ‘Is it a Free Country?’
The critical period in matrimony is breakfast-time.
‘Uncommon Law’ (1935) ‘Is Marriage Lawful?’
‘Was the cow crossed?’ ‘No, your worship, it was an open cow.’
‘Uncommon Law’ (1935) ‘The Negotiable Cow’ (in which an attempt is made to write a cheque on a cow)