The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

Hester Lynch Piozzi ‘Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson’ (1786) p. 179
It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us
ever to call hunting one of them.
In Hester Lynch Piozzi ‘Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson’ (1786) p. 206
Was there ever yet anything written by mere man that was wished longer by its readers,
excepting Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, and the Pilgrim’s Progress?
In Hester Lynch Piozzi ‘Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson’ (1786) p. 281
Abstinence is as easy to me, as temperance would be difficult.
In William Roberts (ed.) ‘Memoirs of the Life and Correspondence of Mrs Hannah More’ (1834) vol. 1, p.
251
What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.
In William Seward ‘Biographia’ (1799) p. 260
Difficult do you call it, Sir? I wish it were impossible.
On the performance of a celebrated violinist, in William Seward ‘Supplement to the Anecdotes of
Distinguished Persons’ (1797) p. 267
Iam moriturus.
I who am about to die.
To Francesco Sastres, shortly before his death on 13 December 1784. W. Jackson Bate ‘Samuel
Johnson’ (1978): ‘The words echo the ancient Roman salutation of the gladiators to Caesar’
10.37 John Benn Johnstone 1803-91
I want you to assist me in forcing her on board the lugger; once there, I’ll frighten her into
marriage.
‘The Gipsy Farmer’ (performed 1845); since quoted: ‘Once aboard the lugger and the maid is mine’
10.38 Hanns Johst 1890-1978
Wenn ich Kultur höre...entsichere ich meinen Browning!
Whenever I hear the word culture...I release the safety-catch of my Browning!
‘Schlageter’ (1933) act 1, sc. 1 (often attributed to Hermann Goering, and quoted: ‘Whenever I hear the word
culture, I reach for my pistol!’)
10.39 Al Jolson 1886-1950
You think that’s noise—you ain’t heard nuttin’ yet!
In a cafè prior to an encore, the applause for his previous rendering having been obliterated by the din from a
neighbouring building site: in Martin Abramson ‘The Real Story of Al Jolson’ (1950) p. 12
10.40 Henry Arthur Jones 1851-1929 and Henry Herman 1832-94
O God! Put back Thy universe and give me yesterday.
‘The Silver King’ (1907) act 2, sc. 4
10.41 John Paul Jones 1747-92