Famously Said Random quote

Clever jabs

277 quotes from 161 people

Most readBy personPage 2 of 19

Judges of elegance and taste consider themselves as benefactors to the human race, whilst they are really only the interrupters of their pleasure.
Jeremy Bentham1748–1832Théorie des peines et des récompenses (1811); translation by Richard Smith, The Rationale of Reward, J. & H. L. Hunt, London, 1825, Bk. 3, Ch. 1
- Art
Empty-brained triflers who have never tried to think, who take their creed as they take their fashions, speak of atheism as the outcome of foul life and vicious desires.
Annie Besant1847–1933Annie Besant: An Autobiography, p. 89
- Atheism
I read the newspapers avidly. It is my one form of continuous fiction.
Aneurin Bevan1897–1960Interview in The Times (29 March 1960), p. 7
- Journalism
The Prime Minister must realise that in this country there is a taunt, on everyone’s lips, that if Rommel had been in the British Army, he would still have been a sergeant.
Aneurin Bevan1897–1960Speech in the House of Commons (2 July 1942)
- War & Peace
The dictator is the one animal who needs to be caged.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto1928–1979Letter to his daughter (1978), p. 63.
- Power
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
The Bible (King James Version)Proverbs 26:11 (KJV)In context
- Wisdom
Clairvoyant, n.: A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron, namely, that he is a blockhead.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
Conservative, n. A statesman enamored of existing evils, as opposed to a Liberal, who wants to replace them with others.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
- Politics
Thus far, the reputed idiot Bush has graduated from Yale and Harvard, made a stack of cash in the oil industry, become the first consecutive-term governor of Texas, defeated a dual-term VP for the presidency, and led his party to [November 5th’s] extraordinary triumphs. Let his opponents keep calling him stupid; if they do, within five years Bush will be King of England, the Pope, and world Formula One motor racing champion.
Tim Blairborn 1965
- Politics
The Falklands thing was a fight between two bald men over a comb.
Jorge Luis Borges1899–1986On the Falklands War, as quoted in Time magazine (14 February 1983)
- War & Peace
He was, and is yet most likely, the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbours.
Emily Brontë1818–1848Wuthering Heights (1847), Chapter VIn context
- Religion
Critics must have been created on the seventh day. Because if God had created them on the first day, what on earth would they have done?
Goncourt brothersMarch 8, 1863; translation from Robert Baldick Dinner at Magny’s (London: Victor Gollancz, 1971) p. 77.
As a woman, I find it very embarrassing to be in a meeting and realize I’m the only one in the room with balls.
Rita Mae Brownborn 1944
- Women
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans are suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they’re okay, then it’s you.
Rita Mae Brownborn 1944
I would like to take you seriously, but to do so would affront your intelligence.
William F. Buckley Jr.1925–2008