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Patrick O'Brian Quotes

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Famous Patrick O'Brian Quotes

“Go and see whether the Doctor is about,’ said Jack, ‘and if he is, ask him to look in, when he has a moment.’ Which he is in the fish-market, turning over some old-fashioned lobsters. No. I tell a lie. That is him, falling down the companion-way and cursing in foreign.”

IfsWayLooksSaidMomentsLyingFallAsksDoctorsFishesCompanionOld FashionedFalling DownCursingLobster
Book:Blue at the Mizzen (Vol. Book 20) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)
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“Two weevils crept from the crumbs. 'You see those weevils, Stephen?' said Jack solemnly. I do.' Which would you choose?' There is not a scrap of difference. Arcades ambo. They are the same species of curculio, and there is nothing to choose between them.' But suppose you had to choose?' Then I should choose the right-hand weevil; it has a perceptible advantage in both length and breadth.' There I have you,' cried Jack. 'You are bit - you are completely dished. Don't you know that in the Navy you must always choose the lesser of two weevils? Oh ha, ha, ha, ha!”

KnowsShouldSaidTwoHandsBitsDifferencesAdvantageSpeciesLengthYou ChooseCriedNavyScrapBreadthCrumbsArcades
Author:Patrick O'Brian
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“They will not be pleased. But they know we must catch the monsoon with a well-found ship; and they know they are in the Navy--they have chosen their cake, and must lie on it.' You mean, they cannot have their bed and eat it.' No, no, it is not quite that either. I mean--I wish you would not confuse my mind, Stephen.”

KnowsMindWellsMeanLyingFoundWishBedChosenShipsCakeNavyWish YouMonsoonsI Wish You Would
Book:H. M. S. Surprise (Vol. Book 3) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)
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“...I have had such a sickening of men in masses, and of causes, that I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent the union or to bring about the millennium. I speak only for myself, mind - it is my own truth alone - but man as part of a movement or a crowd is indifferent to me. He is inhuman. And I have nothing to do with nations, or nationalism. The only feelings I have - for what they are - are for men as individuals; my loyalties, such as they may be, are to private persons alone.”

MenMindMayPersonsFeelingsIndividualSpeakNationsCausesMy OwnRoomsMovementMassCrossesUnionsCrowdsLoyaltyReformNationalismIndifferentParliamentInhumanMillennium
Book:Master and Commander (Vol. Book 1)
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“Sir,’ said Stephen, ‘I read novels with the utmost pertinacity. I look upon them--I look upon good novels--as a very valuable part of literature, conveying more exact and finely-distinguished knowledge of the human heart and mind than almost any other, with greater breadth and depth and fewer constraints.”

MindHumansLooksHeartSaidLiteratureNovelGreaterDepthValuableFewerHuman HeartHeart And MindDistinguishedConstraintsBreadthConveying
Book:Master and commander ; Post captain ; H.M.S. Surprise ; The Mauritius command
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“Authority is a solvent of humanity: look at any husband, any father of a family,and note the absorption of the person by the persona, the individual by the role. Then multiply the family, and the authority, by some hundreds and see the effect upon a sea-captain, to say nothing of an absolute monarch.Surely man in general is born to be oppressed or solitary, if he is to be fully human; unless it so happens that he is immune to the poison.”

IfsMenHumansLooksPersonsHappensHumanityFatherIndividualBornRolesSeaEffectsHusbandAuthorityAbsolutesNotesPoisonSolitaryCaptainsOppressedPersonaImmuneMonarchsAbsorption
Author:Patrick O'Brian
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“For you must know, gentlemen, that when the mariner is dosed, he likes to know that he has been dosed: with fifteen grains or even less of this valuable substance scenting him and the very air about him there can be no doubt of the matter; and such is the nature of the human mind that he experiences a far greater real benefit than the drug itself would provide, were it deprived of its stench.”

KnowsMindHumansHas BeensRealMatterDoubtGreaterAirDrugBenefitsValuableLikesSubstanceGentlemanNo DoubtHuman MindGrainFifteenDeprivedMariners
Author:Patrick O'Brian
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“He sat on as the sun's rays came slowly down through the trees, lower and lower, and when the lowest reached a branch not far above him it caught a dewdrop poised upon a leaf. The drop instantly blazed crimson, and a slight movement of his head made it show all the colours of the spectrum with extraordinary purity, from a red almost too deep to be seen through all the others to the ultimate violet and back again.”

MadeShowsSunTreeMovementRedUltimateExtraordinaryCaughtMade ItSatPurityBranchesColourRaysLowestLeafsVioletSpectrumBack AgainCrimsonToo Deep
Author:Patrick O'Brian
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“I do not say that all lawyers are bad, but I do maintain that the general tendency is bad: standing up in a court for whichever side has paid you, affecting warmth and conviction, and doing everything you can to win the case, whatever your private opinion may be, will soon dull any fine sense of honour. The mercenary soldier is not a valued creature, but at least he risks his life, whereas these men merely risk their next fee.”

MenMayNextWinningSidesOpinionCasesRiskFineCreaturesStandingPaidCourtSoldierConvictionLawyerTendenciesDullHonourWarmthFeesMercenary
Book:The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels
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“You are to consider that a certain melancholy and often a certain irascibility accompany advancing age: indeed it might be said that advancing age equals ill-temper. On reaching the middle years a man perceives that he is no longer able to do certain things, that what looks he may have had are deserting him, that he has a ponderous great belly, and that however much he may yet burn he is no longer attractive to women; and he rebels. Fortitude, resignation and philosophy are of more value than any pills, red, white or blue.”

MenYearsLooksMaySaidPhilosophyMightAgeAbleCertainValuesWhiteMiddleRedBlueIllPerceiveAttractiveReachingMelancholyRebelTemperBellyPillsFortitudeResignationAdvancingAccompany
Book:The Truelove (Vol. Book 15) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)
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“And she hates being managed - that is not the word I want. What is it, Maturin?' 'Manipulated.' 'Exactly. She is a dutiful girl - a great sense of duty: I think it rather stupid, but there it is - but still she finds the way her mother has been arranging and pushing and managing and angling in all this perfectly odious. You two must have had hogsheads of that grocer's claret forced down your throats. Perfectly odious: and she is obstinate - strong, if you like - under that bread-and-butter way of hers. It will take a great deal to move her; much more than the excitement of a ball.”

IfsThinkingWayWantHas BeensStillsTwoMovingMotherHateGirlStrongDealsStupidDutyBallsBreadExcitementPushingThroatObstinateArrangingAnglingBread And ButterClaretGrocers
Author:Patrick O'Brian
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“Why, sir," said he, looking about him, "what splendour I see: gold lace, breeches, cocked hats. Allow me to recommend a sandwich. And would you be contemplating an attack, at all?" "It had crossed my mind, I must admit," said Jack. "Indeed, I may go so far as to say, that I am afraid a conflict is now virtually inevitable. Did you notice we have cleared for action?”

MindMaySaidActionConflictGoldInevitableHatsContemplatingSandwichesLaceSplendour
Author:Patrick O'Brian
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“It meant that Diana had not waited for any explanation, however halting and imperfect, but had condemned him unheard; and this showed a much harder, far less affectionate woman than the Diana he had known or had thought he knew - a mythical person, no doubt created by himself. It had of course been evident from her letter, which made no reference to his; but he had not chosen to see the evidence and now it was absolutely forced upon his sight it made his eyes sting and tingle again. And deprived of his myth he felt extraordinarily lonely.”

PersonsMadeEyeCoursesFeltKnownDoubtEvidenceLonelyLettersSightHarderMythChosenExplanationHis EyesNo DoubtImperfectEvidentDeprivedAffectionateUnheardDiana
Book:The Reverse of the Medal (Vol. Book 11) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)
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