The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

Poetic fields encompass me around,
And still I seem to tread on classic ground.
‘Letter from Italy’ (1704)
A painted meadow, or a purling stream.
‘Letter from Italy’ (1704)
Music, the greatest good that mortals know,
And all of heaven we have below.
‘A Song for St Cecilia’s Day’
Should the whole frame of nature round him break,
In ruin and confusion hurled,
He, unconcerned, would hear the mighty crack,
And stand secure amidst a falling world.
Translation of Horace Odes bk. 3, ode 3.
A reader seldom peruses a book with pleasure until he knows whether the writer of it be a
black man or a fair man, of a mild or choleric disposition, married or a bachelor.
‘The Spectator’ no. 1, 1 March 1711
In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow,
Thou’rt such a touchy, testy, pleasant fellow;
Hast so much wit, and mirth, and spleen about thee,
There is no living with thee, nor without thee.
‘The Spectator’ no. 68, 18 May 1711.
As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keeps them in very good order, and will
suffer nobody to sleep in it [the church] besides himself; for if by chance he has been surprised
into a short nap at sermon, upon recovering out of it, he stands up, and looks about him; and if he
sees anybody else nodding, either wakes them himself, or sends his servant to them.
‘The Spectator’ no. 112, 9 July 1711
Sir Roger told them, with the air of a man who would not give his judgement rashly, that much
might be said on both sides.
‘The Spectator’ no. 122, 20 July 1711
It was a saying of an ancient philosopher, which I find some of our writers have ascribed to
Queen Elizabeth, who perhaps might have taken occasion to repeat it, that a good face is a letter
of recommendation.
‘The Spectator’ no. 221, 13 November 1711.
I have often thought, says Sir Roger, it happens very well that Christmas should fall out in the
Middle of Winter.
‘The Spectator’ no. 269, 8 January 1712
A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections, to discover the
concealed beauties of a writer, and communicate to the world such things as are worth their
observation.
‘The Spectator’ no. 291, 2 February 1712.