Home › W › Words
Words: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations
Words of affection, howsoe'er express'd, The latest spoken still are deem'd the best.— JOANNA BAILLIE — Address to Miss
Agnes Baillie on her Birthday. L. 126. 'Tis a word that's quickly spoken, Which being restrained, a heart is broken.— BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER — The Spanish Curate. Act II. Sc. 5. Song.
When we desire to confine our words, we commonly say they are spoken under the rose.— SIT. THOMAS BROWNE — Vulgar Errors.
Of Speaking Under the Rose. High Air-castles are cunningly built of Words, the Words well bedded also in good Logic-mortar; wherein, however, no Knowledge will come to lodge.— CARLYLE — Sartor Resartus. Bk. I. Ch. VIII.
Words writ in waters.— GEORGE CHAPMAN — Revenge for Honour. Act V. Sc. 2.
Words are but empty thanks.— COLLEY CIBBER — Woman's Wit. Act V.
Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.— CONFUCIUS — Analects. Bk. XX. Ch. III.
Words that weep, and tears that speak.— COWLEY — The Prophet. St. 2. L. 8.
But words once spoke can never be recall'd.— WENTWORTH DILLON — Art of Poetry. L. 442.
It used to be a common saying of Myson's that men ought not to seek for things in words, but for words in things; for that things are not made on account of words but that words are put together for the sake of things.— DIOGENES LAERTIUS — Lives of the Philosophers. Bk. I. Myson. Ch. 3.
And torture one poor word ten thousand ways.— DRYDEN — Mac Flecknoe. L. 208.
Our words have wings, but fly not where we would.— GEORGE ELIOT — The Spanish Gypsy. Bk. III.
What if my words Were meant for deeds.— GEORGE ELIOT — The Spanish Gypsy. Bk. III.
'Twas he that ranged the words at random flung, Pierced the fair pearls and them together strung.— FIRDOUSI — Auvari Suhaili. Eastwick's
trans. For words are wise men's counters-they do but reckon by them-but they are the money of fools.— THOMAS HOBBES — The Leviathan. Pt. I. Ch. IV. Sc. 15.
There is no point where art so nearly touches nature as when it appears in the form of words.— J. G. HOLLAND — Plain Talks on
Familiar Subjects. Art and Life. Words sweet as honey from his lips distill'd. S.— HOMER — Iliad. Bk. I. L. 332.
Pope's trans. I am not yet so lost in lexicography, as to forget that words are the daughters of earth, and that things are the sons of heaven.— SAM'L JOHNSON — Preface to his
Dictionary. Fair words gladden so many a heart. и.— LONGFELLOW — Tales of a Wayside Inn.
The Musician's Tale. Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not.— LONGFELLOW — Evangeline. Pt. I. V. L. 43.
There comes Emerson first, whose rich words, every one, Are like gold nails in temples to hang trophies on.— LOWELL — A Fable for Critics.
Words are men's daughters, but God's sons are things.— SAMUEL MADDEN — Boulter's Monument.
(Said to have been inserted by Dr. Johnson.) It is as easy to draw back a stone thrown with force from the hand, as to recall a word once spoken.— MENANDER — Ex Incert, Comed.
P. 216. Words, however, are things; and the man who accords To his language the license to outrage his soul, Is controll'd by the words he disdains to control. OWEN MEREDITH (Lord Lytton)- Lucile. Pt. I. Canto II. St. VI. How many honest words have suffered corruption since Chaucer's days!— THOMAS MIDDLETON — No Wit, No Help, Like a Woman's. Act II. Sc. 1.
His words, *** like so many nimble and airy servitors, trip about him at command.— MILTON — Apology for Smectymnuus.
C. And to bring in a new word by the head and shoulders, they leave out the old one.— MONTAIGNE — Essays. Upon some Verses
of Virgil. Words are like leaves; and where they most abound, Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. L. 309.
*** They say That, putting all his words together, 'Tis three blue beans in one blue bladder.— PRIOR — Alma. Canto I. L. 26.
O! many a shaft, at random sent, Finds mark the archer little meant! And many a word, at random spoken, May soothe or wound a heart that's broken!— SCOTT — Lord of the Isles. Canto V. St. 18.
Syllables govern the world.— JOHN SELDEN — Table Talk. Power.
A fine volley of words, gentlemen, and quickly shot off. Act II.— Shakespeare — Two Gentlemen of Verona. Act II. Sc. 4. L. 33.
But words are words; I never yet did hear That the bruis'd heart was pierced through the ear.— Shakespeare — Othello. Act I. Sc. 3. L. 218.
But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. Julius Cæsar. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 123. Familiar in his mouth as household words.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 52.
Good words are better than bad strokes. Julius Cæsar. Act V. Sc. 1. L. 29. He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument.— Shakespeare — Love's Labour's Lost. Act V. Sc. 1. L. 18.
Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words That ever blotted paper!— Shakespeare — Merchant of Venice. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 254.
How long a time lies in one little word! . Four lagging winters and four wanton springs End in a word: such is the breath of kings— Shakespeare — Richard II. Act I. Sc. 3. L. 213.
I know thou'rt full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath.— Shakespeare — Othello. Act III. Sc. 3. L. 118.
Madam, you have bereft me of all words, . Sc. Only my blood speaks to you in my veins.— Shakespeare — Merchant of Venice. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 177.
My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: go . Words without thoughts never to heaven— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act III. Sc. 3. L. 97.
S. These words are razors to my wounded heart.— Shakespeare — Titus Andronicus. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 314.
'Tis well said again; And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well : And yet words are no deeds.— Shakespeare — Henry VIII. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 152.
น. Unpack my heart with words, And fall a-cursing, like a very drab.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 614.
What do you read, my lord? Words, words, words.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 193.
Words are grown so false, I am loath to prove reason with them.— Shakespeare — Twelfth Night. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 28.
Words pay no debts, give her deeds. Sc.— Shakespeare — Troilus and Cressida. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 58.
Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart.— Shakespeare — Troilus and Cressida. Act V. Sc. 3. L. 108.
Zounds! I was never so bethump'd with words Since I first call'd my brother's father dad.— Shakespeare — King John. Act II. Sc. 1. L. 466.
aa. We know not what we do When we speak words. bb.— SHELLEY — Rosalind and Helen. L. 1,108. Sc. 2
Words are but holy as the deeds they cover.— SHELLEY — The Cenci. Act II. Sc. 2.
The artillery of words.— SWIFT — Ode to Sancroft. L. 13.
Deep in my heart subsides the infrequent word, And there dies slowly throbbing like a wounded bird.— FRANCIS THOMPSON — Her Portrait. St. 3.
Nescit vox missa reverti. A word once escaped can never be recalled.— HORACE — Ars Poetica. 390.
Tristia mæstum Vultum verba decent; iratum, plena minarum; Ludentem, lasciva; severum, seria dictu. Sorrowful words become the sorrowful; angry words suit the passionate; light words a playful expression; serious words suit the grave.— HORACE — Ars Poetica. 105.
Fere totus mundus exerceat histrionem. Almost the whole world are players.— PETRONIUS ARBITER — Satyricon. Frag.
Satis eloquentiæ sapientiæ parum. Enough words little wisdom.— SALLUST — Catilina. V.
Ich hab' es immer gesagt: das Weib wollte die Natur zu ihrem Meisterstücke machen. I have always said it-Nature meant woman to be her masterpiece.— LESSING — Emilia Galotti. V. 7.
Was hätt' ein Weiberkopf erdacht, das er Nicht zu beschönen wüsste? What could a woman's head contrive Which it would not know how to excuse?— LESSING — Nathan der Weise.
Le monde se paye de paroles; peu approfondissent les choses. The world is satisfied with words. Few appreciate the things beneath.— PASCAL — Lettres Provinciales. II.
Souvent d'un grand dessein un mot nous fait juger. A single word often betrays a great design.— RACINE — Athalie. II. 6.
Der Worte sind genug gewechselt, Lasst mich auch endlich Thaten sehn. The words you've bandied are sufficient; 'Tis deeds that I prefer to see. S.— GOETHE — Faust. Vorspiel auf dem Theater. L. 182.
Ein Wörtlein kann ihn fällen. A single little word can strike him dead. a. LUTHER, of the Pope. Es macht das Volk sich auch mit Worten Lust. The rabble also vent their rage in words.— GOETHE — Torquato Tasso. II. 2. 201.
Gewöhnlich glaubt der Mensch, wenn er nur Worte hört, Es müsse sich dabei doch auch was denken lassen. Man usually believes, if only words he hears, That also with them goes material for thinking. C.— GOETHE — Faust. 1. 6. 230.
Schnell fertig ist die Jugend mit dem Wort. Youth is too hasty with words.— SCHILLER — Wallenstein's Tod. II. 2.