The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

weather sharp, the days short, the sun farthest off in solstitio brumali, the very dead of Winter.
‘Of the Nativity’ (1622) Sermon 15.
The nearer the Church the further from God.
‘Of the Nativity’ (1622) Sermon 15
1.67 Sir Norman Angell 1872-1967
The great illusion.
Title of book (1910), first published as ‘Europe’s optical illusion’ (1909), on the futility of war
1.68 Anonymous
1.68.1 English
An abomination unto the Lord, but a very present help in time of trouble.
Definition of a lie, an amalgamation of Proverbs 12.22 and Psalms 46.1, often attributed to Adlai Stevenson.
Bill Adler ‘The Stevenson Wit’ (1966) p. 84
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Davison ‘Poetical Rhapsody’ 1602
Adam
Had ’em.
On the antiquity of Microbes (claimed to be the shortest poem)
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ (1948) article 1
All present and correct.
‘King’s Regulations (Army)’. Report of the Orderly Sergeant to the Officer of the Day
All this buttoning and unbuttoning.
18th century suicide note
The almighty dollar is the only object of worship.
‘Philadelphia Public Ledger’ 2 December 1836
Along the electric wire the message came:
He is not better—he is much the same.
Said to be from a poem on the illness of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and often attributed to
Alfred Austin (1835-1913), Poet Laureate. Gribble ‘Romance of the Cambridge Colleges’ (1913) p. 226
The children of Lord Lytton organized a charade. The scene displayed a Crusader knight
returning from the wars. At his gate he was welcomed by his wife to whom he recounted his
triumphs and the number of heathen he had slain. His wife, pointing to a row of dolls of various
sizes, replied with pride, ‘And I too, my lord, have not been idle’.
In G. W. E. Russell ‘Collections and Recollections’ (1898) ch. 31
Any officer who shall behave in a scandalous manner, unbecoming the character of an officer
and a gentleman shall...be CASHIERED.
‘Articles of War’ (1872) ‘Disgraceful Conduct’ article 79 (the Naval Discipline Act, 10 August 1860 Article
24, uses the words ‘conduct unbecoming the character of an Officer’)