Samuel Butler Quotes

With mortal crisis doth portend
My days to appropinque an end.

There are more fools than knaves in the world, else the knaves would not have enough to live upon.

Each window like a pill'ry appears,
With heads thrust thro' nail'd by the ears.

And bid the devil take the hin'most.

Still amorous and fond and billing,
Like Philip and Mary on a shilling.

With many a stiff thwack, many a bang,
Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

For those that run away and fly,
Take place at least o' the enemy.

A Babylonish dialect
Which learned pedants much affect.

For what is worth in anything
But so much money as 't will bring?

For he could coin, or counterfeit New words, with little or no wit; Words so debas'd and hard, no stone Was hard enough to touch them on; And when with hasty noise he spoke 'em; The ignorant for current took 'em;

Shall we that in the Cov'nant swore, Each man of us to run before Another, still in Reformation, Give dogs and bears a dispensation? How will Dissenting Brethren relish it? What will malignants say? videlicet, That each man Swore to do his best, To damn and perjure all the rest! And bid the Devil take the hin'most, Which at this race is like to win most.

They who study mathematiks only to fix their minds, and render them the steadyer to apply to all other things, as there are many who profess to do, are as wise as those who think by rowing boats, to learn to swim.

Why should not conscience have vacation
As well as other courts o' th' nation?

There 's but the twinkling of a star
Between a man of peace and war.

Nor do I know what is become
Of him, more than the Pope of Rome.