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W. S. Gilbert Quotes

Dramatist

W. S. Gilbert was an English dramatist, best known for his collaborations with Arthur S. Sullivan on light operas. His works are renowned for their humor and wit, and have had a profound impact on the development of musical theater.

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All Ifs Knows Littles Men Giving I Can May Wells World Crime Flats Kind Long Seems Thinking Animal Born Found Half Life

Famous W. S. Gilbert Quotes

“If I can wheedle A knife or a needle, Why not a Silver Churn?”

Ifs I Can Imagination Silver Why Not Knives Needles

Book:The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan

Source: The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan

“every Jack He must study the knack If he wants to make sure of his Jill!”

Ifs Want Study Courtship Knack

Book:The Savoy Operas: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan

Source: The Savoy Operas: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan

“If the jests that you crack have an orthodox smack, You may get a bland smile from these sages; But should it, by chance, be imported from France, Half-a-crown is stopped out of your wages!”

Ifs Should May Chance Half France Orthodox Cracks Crowns Wages Sage Smack Bland

Author:W. S. Gilbert

“If your master is surly, from getting up early (And tempers are short in the morning), An inopportune joke is enough to provoke Him to give you, at once, a month's warning.”

Ifs Giving Enough Morning Masters Months Jokes Warning Temper Provoking Up Early Surly

Book:The Savoy Operas: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan

Source: The Savoy Operas: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan

“Oh! a private buffoon is a light-hearted loon, If you listen to popular rumour; From morning to night he's so joyous and bright, And he bubbles with wit and good humour!”

Ifs Light Funny Night Morning Humour Wit Bubbles Hearted Joyous Rumours Buffoons Light Hearted Good Humour

Author:W. S. Gilbert

“If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am: I'm a genuine philanthropist--all other kinds are sham. Each little fault of temper and each social defect In my erring fellow creatures, I endeavor to correct.”

Ifs Giving Kind Littles Social Attention Creatures Give Me Fellows Faults Genuine Manners Endeavor Temper Defects Philanthropist Erring

Book:The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan

Source: The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan

“You must lie upon the daisies and discourse in novel phrases of complicated state of mind. The meaning doesn't matter if it's only idle chatter of a transcendental kind.”

Ifs Mind Kind Matter States Lying Novel Complicated Phrases State Of Mind Idle Discourse Transcendental Daisies Chatter Idle Chatter

Author:W. S. Gilbert

“If you're anxious to shine in the high aesthetic line as a man of culture rare, you must get up all the germs of the transcendental terms, and plant them everywhere.”

Ifs Men Culture Term Lines Mankind Shining Plant Get Up Anxious Aesthetic Humankind Germs Transcendental

Author:W. S. Gilbert

“Deerstalking would be a very fine sport if only the deer had guns.”

Ifs Would Be Sports Animal Fine Gun Hunting Stalking Deer Animal Cruelty Hunted Pet Animals Animal Abuse Inspirational Animal Fox Hunting

Author:W. S. Gilbert

“Is life a boon? If so, it must befall That Death, whene'er he call, Must call too soon.”

Ifs Death Boon

Book:The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan

Source: The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan

“When in that House MPs divide/If they've a brain and cerebellum, too/They've got to leave that brain outside/And vote just as their leaders tell 'em to.”

Ifs Political House Politics Brain Leader Vote Ems Divides Mps

Book:The Savoy Operas: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan

Source: The Savoy Operas: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan

About the Author

Born: November 18, 1836
Died: May 29, 1911
Known for: Dramatist
Quotes: 96

Books & Sources

The Complete Annotated Gilbert and SullivanRelated source material

The Savoy Operas: The Complete Gilbert and Sullivan: The Complete Gilbert and SullivanRelated source material

The Mikado and other OperasRelated source material

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