Nigel Rees Quotes

Writer

Nigel Rees is a British writer born on June 5, 1944. Known for his unique literary criticism and radio programs, Rees has gained popularity for his in-depth and accessible analysis of classic works.

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All Quotations Law Said Bernard Shaw Doubt Fields Firsts Jobs People Taken

Famous Nigel Rees Quotes

“My toils in the quotation field have led me to formulate two or three laws about the way people use and abuse quotations. My first law is: When in doubt, ascribe all quotations to Bernard Shaw - which I don't mean to be taken literally, but as a general observation of the habit people have of attaching remarks to the nearest obvious speaker. Churchill, Wilde, Orson Welles and Alexander Woollcott are other useful figures upon whom to father remarks when you don't know who really said them.”

People Knows Way Firsts Mean Said Two Use Law Three Father Taken Doubt Figures Fields Habit Abuse Obvious Observation Speakers Quotations Toil Remarks When In Doubt Wilde Bernard Shaw Use And Abuse

Author:Nigel Rees

“Rees's First Law of Quotations: When in doubt, ascribe all quotations to George Bernard Shaw.”

Firsts Law Doubt Quotations When In Doubt Bernard Shaw

Book:Mark my words: great quotations and the stories behind them

Source: Mark my words: great quotations and the stories behind them

“Lord Castlerosse was taken to task by Nancy Astor over the size of his stomach. 'What would you say if that was on a woman?' she asked, pointedly. 'Half an hour ago it was,' he replied.”

Ifs Hours Half Lord Taken Tasks Size Stomach Nancy

Author:Nigel Rees

“My job involves searching for 'lost' quotations - that is, trying to find out who came up with a quotable saying that lingers in someone's mind and which they wish to use for their own purpose and which they cannot find in conventional dictionaries of quotation.”

Trying Mind Use Jobs Purpose Lost Wish Conventional Quotations Dictionary

Author:Nigel Rees

“How come there's only one Monopolies Commission?”

Funny Laughter Bureaucracy Monopoly

Author:Nigel Rees

“Democracy is too good to share with just anybody.”

Democracy Share

Author:Nigel Rees

“I am only too aware that I am open to Rees's Second Law of Quotation: "However sure you are that you have attributed a quotation correctly, an earlier source will be pointed out to you."”

Law Source Quotations

Author:Nigel Rees

“Euphemism in the workplace does not end with job descriptions. It reaches a pusillanimous peak at the other end of the work process - in dismissal.”

Doe Ends Jobs Process Description Workplace Euphemism Dismissal

Author:Nigel Rees

“I got into New College, Oxford. The ethos was that you could work - or not.”

College Oxford Ethos

Author:Nigel Rees

“I was broadcast-struck from an early age; I had saved up for a tape recorder and started making programmes.”

Age Saved Tape Programmes Recorders

Author:Nigel Rees

“It is part of politics to make things look better than they really are. What is a spin doctor but a serial euphemiser?”

Looks Doctors Serials Spin Doctors

Author:Nigel Rees

“People will say what they want to say, in the way they want to.”

People Way Want

Author:Nigel Rees

“I was absolutely a non-starter at games. My report for rugby said, 'Nigel's chief contribution is his presence on the field.' I used to pray for rain and sometimes it did rain - and we played anyway.”

Said Sometimes Used Games Fields Praying Rain Chiefs Contribution Reports Rugby Starters

Author:Nigel Rees

“I was terribly shy and never said anything in class. Then I started getting into school plays. When you've got words to say, you've got a sort of armour.”

Said Play School Class Shy Armour School Plays

Author:Nigel Rees

About the Author

Born: June 5, 1944
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 14

Books & Sources

Mark my words: great quotations and the stories behind themRelated source material

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