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Return Quotes

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Return Quotes

“If you say hard things you must expect to hear them in return.”

Ifs Hard Return Hard Things

Author:Plautus

“Love can never be a sin. It can be only a blessing. Even if you're not loved in return -- though I can't imagine that -- to love is a proof of life -- indeed, it's the only proof, for once you can't love another human being, you're not alive.”

Ifs Humans I Can Human Beings Sin Love Is Alive Imagine Return Blessing Proof Imagine That

Author:Pearl S. Buck

“the sea is a collector, quick to return a rapacious look.”

Looks Sea Return Ocean Collectors

Book:Observations: Poems

Source: Observations: Poems

“No matter whether the Constitution follows the flag or not, the Supreme Court follows the election returns.”

Matter Return Constitution Election Court Supreme Flags Supreme Court

Book:Mr. Dooley remembers: the informal memoirs of Finley Peter Dunne

Source: Mr. Dooley remembers: the informal memoirs of Finley Peter Dunne

“If we use no ceremony towards others, we shall be treated without any. People are soon tired of paying trifling attentions to those who receive them with coldness, and return them with neglect.”

People Ifs Use Attention Return Tired Treated Neglect Ceremony Trifling Coldness

Book:The Round Table. A collection of Essays ... By W. H. and Leigh Hunt

Source: The Round Table. A collection of Essays ... By W. H. and Leigh Hunt

“How can we explain the perpetuity of envy--a vice which yields no return?”

Return Vices Envy Yield

Author:Honore de Balzac

“The manuscript may go forth from the writer to return with a faithfulness passing the faithfulness of the boomerang or the homing pigeon.”

May Return Passing Passings Faithfulness Manuscripts Pigeons Boomerang

Book:A Casual Commentary

Source: A Casual Commentary

“And kind the voice and glad the eyes That welcome my return at night.”

Kind Eye Night Voice Return Glad Welcome

Author:William C. Bryant

“a perfectly managed Christmas correct in every detail is, like basted inside seams and letters answered by return, a sure sign of someone who hasn't enough to do.”

Enough Return Letters Details Christmas

Author:Katharine Whitehorn

“Is there a rarer being, Is there a fairer sphere Where the strong are not unseeing, And the harvests are not sere; Where, ere the seasons dwindle They yield their due return; Where the lamps of knowledge kindle While the flames of youth still burn?”

Stills Strong Youth Return Future Seasons Dues Flames Yield Spheres Harvest Lamps Kindles

Book:An American Anthology, 1787-1900: Selections Illustrating the Editor's Critical Review of American Poetry in the Nineteenth Century

Source: An American Anthology, 1787-1900: Selections Illustrating the Editor's Critical Review of American Poetry in the Nineteenth Century

“If once a woman breaks through the barriers of decency, her ease is desperate; and if she goes greater lengths than the men, and leaves the pale of propriety farther behind her, it is because she is aware that all return is prohibited, and by none so strongly as by her own sex.”

Ifs Men Sex Behinds Break Greater He Man Return Ease Desperate Barriers Length Pale Decency Break Through Propriety

Author:Charles Caleb Colton

“Every soul has a landscape that changes with the wind that sweeps the sky, with the clouds that return after its rain.”

Soul Fate Sky Wind Return Rain Clouds Landscape

Book:The Complete Novels of George Macdonald (Illustrated): The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, Phantastes, At the Back of the North Wind, Lilith, David Elginbrod, Malcolm, Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood, Wilfrid Cumbermede and many more

Source: The Complete Novels of George Macdonald (Illustrated): The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, Phantastes, At the Back of the North Wind, Lilith, David Elginbrod, Malcolm, Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood, Wilfrid Cumbermede and many more

“The greater part of our writers have become so original, that no one cares to imitate them: and those who never quote in return are seldom quoted.”

Care Greater Return Originals Quotations No One Cares

Author:Isaac D'Israeli

“The schoolboy counts the time till the return of the holidays; the minor longs to be of age; the lover is impatient till he is married.”

Age Return Lovers Married Holiday Minors Impatient Impatience

Author:Joseph Addison

“A good executive is one who makes people contentedly settle for less than they meant to get, in return for more than they meant to give.”

People Giving Return Management Settling Executives

Book:Aperçus: The Aphorisms of Mignon McLaughlin

Source: Aperçus: The Aphorisms of Mignon McLaughlin

“To get a roaster clean, send something like baked apples in it to a neighbor. Neighbors always return pans spotless, and you won't have to use a blow torch on it like you usually do.”

Use Like You Return Clean Blow Neighbor Apples Torches

Author:Phyllis Diller

“Occasionally, once a speaker is on his feet, it is difficult to get him to sit down. ... If and when he returns to earth, he notices half of the room is paging the other half and a few are playing with the melted candles.”

Ifs Earth Difficult Rooms Half Feet Return Candle Speakers Other Half Ifs And

Author:Erma Bombeck

“Some say the antique syndrome surfaced to offset the newness of the land, the homes, and the settlers. Some say the interest was initiated by a desire to return to the roots of yesterday. I contend the entire movement to acquire antiques was born out of sheer respect of things that lasted longer than fifteen minutes.”

Home Desire Interest Born Land Minutes Movement Return Roots Yesterday Acquire Sheer Fifteen Syndromes Antiques Newness Settlers

Book:The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank

Source: The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank

“From good to bad, and from bad to worse, From worse unto that is worst of all, And then return to his former fall.”

Fall Worst Return Former

Book:Poetical works

Source: Poetical works

“To forget, or pretend to do so, to return a borrowed article, is the meanest sort of petty theft.”

Forget Return Articles Petty Theft Borrowed Borrowing

Author:Samuel Johnson

“Superstition! that horrid incubus which dwelt in darkness, shunning the light, with all its racks, and poison chalices, and foul sleeping draughts, is passing away without return. Religion cannot pass away. The burning of a little straw may hide the stars of the sky; but the stars are there and will reappear.”

May Littles Light Stars Sleep Darkness Sky Return Passing Passings Burning Poison Superstitions Foul Passing Away Straws Racks Draught Chalice Incubus Shunning

Book:The Carlyle Anthology

Source: The Carlyle Anthology

“A very sea of thought; neither calm nor clear, if you will, yet wherein the toughest pearl-diver may dive to his utmost depth, and return not only with sea-wreck but with true orients.”

Ifs May Clear Sea Return Depth Calm Pearls Wrecks

Book:Carlyle Reader

Source: Carlyle Reader

“On their return from a trip, it is wise to see friends promptly, before they've had time to get their pictures developed.”

Wise Return Travel

Book:On Getting Old for the First Time

Source: On Getting Old for the First Time

“Like earth, awake, and warm, and bright With joy the spirit moves and burns; So up to thee! O Fount of Light! Our light returns.”

Light Earth Moving Joy Spirit Return Warm Thee Awake

Book:The Poetical Works of John Sterling

Source: The Poetical Works of John Sterling

“Everything comes from everything, and everything is made out of everything, and everything returns into everything.”

Made Return Manifestation

Book:The notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci

Source: The notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci

“Benefits are acceptable, while the receiver thinks he may return them; but once exceeding that, hatred is given instead of thanks.”

Thinking May Given Return Benefits Hatred Thanks Acceptable Receiver

Author:Bill Vaughan

“The soldier's business is to take life. For that he is paid by the State, eulogized by political charlatans and upheld by public hysteria. But woman's function is to give life, yet neither the State nor politicians nor public opinion have ever made the slightest provision in return for the life woman has given.”

Giving Made States Political Given Opinion Return Politician Function Paid Soldier Public Opinion Provision Hysteria Charlatans

Book:Anarchy and the Sex Question: Essays on Women and Emancipation, 1896–1926

Source: Anarchy and the Sex Question: Essays on Women and Emancipation, 1896–1926

“Come, evening, once again, season of peace; Return, sweet evening, and continue long! Methinks I see thee in the streaky west, With matron step, slow moving, while the night Treads on thy sweeping train; one hand employ'd In letting fall the curtain of repose On bird and beast, the other charged for man With sweet oblivion of the cares of day.”

Source: Poems ... With an introductory essay by James Montgomery. [With plates.]

“The out-of-date returns in due course as the picturesque.”

Courses Return Dues Nostalgia Picturesque

Book:At Bertram's Hotel

Source: At Bertram's Hotel

“Many friends have said to me, 'I never know when you write your books, because I've never seen you writing, or even seen you go away to write.' I must behave rather as dogs do when they retire with a bone; they depart in a secretive manner and you do not see them again for an odd half hour. They return self-consciously with mud on their noses. I do much the same.”

Knows Writing Said Book Self Hours Half Dog Return Bones Noses Odd Behave Going Away Retiring Mud Half Hours Many Friends Secretive

Book:Agatha Christie: An Autobiography

Source: Agatha Christie: An Autobiography

“The first class of readers may be compared to an hour-glass, their reading being as the sand; it runs in and runs out, and leaves not a vestige behind. A second class resembles a sponge, which imbibes everything, and returns it in nearly the same state, only a little dirtier. A third class is like a jelly-bag, which allows all that is pure to pass away, and retains only the refuse and dregs. The fourth class may be compared to the slave of Golconda, who, casting aside all that is worthless, preserves only the pure gems.”

“Etiquette is about all of human social behavior. Behavior is regulated by law when etiquette breaks down or when the stakes are high - violations of life, limb, property and so on. Barring that, etiquette is a little social contract we make that we will restrain some of our more provocative impulses in return for living more or less harmoniously in a community.”

“When malice has reason on its side, it looks forth bravely, and displays that reason in all its luster. When austerity and self-denial have not realized true happiness, and the soul returns to the dictates of nature, the reaction is fearfully extravagant.”

Looks Soul Self Reason Sides Return Reactions Denial Display Malice True Happiness Extravagant Self-denial Austerity Luster

Book:Thoughts of Blaise Pascal

Source: Thoughts of Blaise Pascal

“It really doesn't take brains to be a politician as much as it takes stomach. Both would be nice, but in America we have accepted diminishing returns in this arena.”

Would Be America Brain Nice Return Politician Accepted Stomach Being Nice Arena Diminishing Returns

Book:Rita Will: Memoir of a Literary Rabble-Rouser

Source: Rita Will: Memoir of a Literary Rabble-Rouser

“What did a few ripples in the flesh matter when, all too soon, now or later, that flesh would be making its return journey to dust?”

Matter Body Would Be Journey Return Flesh Dust Ripple

Author:Gail Godwin

“Be not too great a niggard in the commendations of him that professes thy own quality: if he deserve thy praise, thou hast discovered thy judgment; if not, thy modesty: honor either returns or reflects to the giver.”

Ifs Quality Return Honor Judgment Deserve Praise Modesty Giver Commendation Niggard

Book:The Complete Works in Prose and Verse of Francis Quarles

Source: The Complete Works in Prose and Verse of Francis Quarles

“What came from the earth returns back to the earth, and the spirit that was sent from heaven, again carried back, is received into the temple of heaven.”

Earth Spirit Heaven Return Temples Exes Items Retro Return Back

Author:Lucretius

“All things but one you can restore; the heart you get returns no more.”

Heart Return All Things

Book:The Poems of Edmund Waller ...

Source: The Poems of Edmund Waller ...

“We must bear in mind the possibility that the greater opportunities open in the twentieth century to women may be quite withdrawn, and that we may return to stricter regimentation of women.”

Mind May Opportunity Greater Century Possibility Return Bears Twentieth Century Regimentation

Author:Margaret Mead

“Nothing can doom man but the belief in doom, for this prevents the movement of return.”

Men Belief Movement Return Negativity Doom

Book:I and Thou

Source: I and Thou

“How dreadful it is, to emerge from the oblivion of slumber, and to receive as a good morrow the mute wailing of one's own hapless heart - to return from the land of deceptive dreams to the heavy knowledge of unchanged disaster!”

Heart Dream Grief Land Return Sorrow Heavy Disaster Oblivion Mute Morrow Slumber Deceptive Wailing

Book:The Last Man

Source: The Last Man

“The hardest thing for me is the sense of impermanence. All passes; nothing returns.”

Return Hardest Hardest Thing Impermanence

Book:Letters of Ellen Glasgow

Source: Letters of Ellen Glasgow

“Fear is concealed in smiles and flashing teeth. 'Please say you still love me,' the kings and queens are really saying. And, when they fare badly, they return to their palaces and sleep fitfully.”

Stills Fear Sleep Return Kings Please Teeth Queens Palaces Concealed Kings And Queens

Author:Shirley MacLaine

“Madness is consistent; which is more than can be said for poor reason. Whatever may be the ruling passion at the time continues equally so throughout the whole delirium, though it should last for life. Madmen are always constant in love; which no man in his senses ever was. Our passions and principles are steady in frenzy; but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.”

Men Should May Said Reason Whole Lasts Passion Poor Principles Return Madness Constant Senses Consistent Steady Ruling Madmen Frenzy Delirium Ruling Passion

Book:The Posthumous Works of Laurence Sterne: ...

Source: The Posthumous Works of Laurence Sterne: ...

“Self-affection is the real dwelling to which we must always return with a view to a faithfulness to ourselves and an ability to welcome the other as different.”

Different Real Self Ability Views Return Affection Welcome Faithfulness Dwelling

Book:Building a New World

Source: Building a New World

“After twenty annual visits, I am still surprised each time I return to see this giant asparagus bed of alabaster and rose and green skyscrapers.”

Stills Return Bed Twenties Green Rose Giants Annuals Skyscraper Asparagus

Book:I take great pleasure

Source: I take great pleasure

“I knock unbidden once at every gate-- If sleeping, wake--if feasting, rise before I turn away--it is the hour of fate, And they who follow me reach every state Mortals desire, and conquer every foe Save death, but those who doubt of hesitate, Condemned to failure, penury and woe, Seek me in vain and uselessly implore, I answer not, and I return no more.”

Ifs States Desire Turns Opportunity Hours Sleep Answers Doubt Fate Return Mortals Conquer Vain Gates Woe Foe Follow Me Feasting Opportunity Knocking

Author:John James Ingalls

“Moss is inconceivably strong. Moss eats stone; scarcely anything, in return, eats moss. Moss dines upon boulders, slowly but devastatingly, in a meal that lasts for centuries. Given enough time, a colony of moss can turn a cliff into gravel, and turn that gravel into topsoil.”

Enough Lasts Turns Strong Given Century Return Stones Meals Biology Cliffs Enough Time Colony Moss Dine Boulders Gravel Topsoil

Book:The Signature of All Things

Source: The Signature of All Things

“Life was resumed, and anxious living blew away as if it had not been. I could not breathe deep enough or long enough. It was a return to happiness.”

Ifs Long Enough Happiness Return Breathe Anxious

Book:The Country of the Pointed Firs

Source: The Country of the Pointed Firs

“Learn to live, and live to learn, Ignorance like a fire doth burn, Little tasks make large return.”

Littles Learning Fire Ignorance Return Tasks

Author:Bayard Taylor