Patrick O'Brian Quotes (14 quotes) | Quotes of famous people

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The Unknown Shore

Patrick O'Brian

Patrick O'Brian: 14 quotes0 likes

Famous Patrick O'Brian Quotes

““This short watch that is about to come, or rather these two short watches--why are they called dog watches? Where, heu, heu, is the canine connection?'
Why,' said Stephen, 'it is because they are curtailed of course.””

Patrick O'Brian book Post Captain

Source: Post Captain (1972)

“Other people's marriages are a perpetual source of amazement.”

Patrick O'Brian book The Commodore

Source: The Commodore (1995)

“Wit is the unexpected copulation of ideas.”

Patrick O'Brian The Hundred Days

Source: The Hundred Days

“I sew his ears on from time to time, sure.”

Patrick O'Brian book Post Captain

Source: Post Captain

“Stephen had spared no expense in making himself more unhappy, his own position as a rejected lover clearer.”

Patrick O'Brian

Source: H.M.S. Surprise

“I am opposed to authority, that egg of misery and oppression; I am opposed to it largely for what it does to those who exercise it.”

Patrick O'Brian book Post Captain

Source: Post Captain

Patrick O'Brian Quotes

“But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either, which is infamous, or, which is imbecile.”

Patrick O'Brian book Master and Commander

Source: Master and Commander (1970)
Context: “But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.”

“Jack, you have debauched my sloth.”

Patrick O'Brian

HMS Surprise (1973)
Source: H.M.S. Surprise

“We understood one another better before ever I opened my mouth”

Patrick O'Brian

“And pray, what in sea language is meant by a ship?”

Patrick O'Brian book Master and Commander

"She must have three square-rigged masts, sir," they told him kindly, "and a bowsprit; and the masts must be in three - lower, top and topgallant - for we never call a polacre a ship."
Master and Commander (1970)

“Come," he said, taking her by the hand and leading her to a distant sopha, "come and sit by me, and let us talk of bats.”

Patrick O'Brian book The Unknown Shore

The Unknown Shore (1959).

“… He is not very sharp in some ways; and in his simple view of the world, paederasts are dangerous only to powder-monkeys and choir boys, or to those epicene creatures that are to be found in Mediterranean brothels. I made circuitous attempt at enlightening him a little, but he looked very knowing and said, 'Don't tell me about rears and vices; I have been in the Navy all my life.'"
"Then surely he must be wanting a little in penetration?”

Patrick O'Brian book Master and Commander

"James, I trust there was no mens rea in that remark?"
Master and Commander (1970) ("rears and vices" is O'Brian's homage to Jane Austen's Mansfield Park)

“My God, oh my God," he said. "Six hundred men.”

Patrick O'Brian book Desolation Island

Desolation Island (1979)

“But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.”

Patrick O'Brian book Master and Commander

Master and Commander (1970)