“"Papa is a preferable mode of address," observed Mrs General. "Father is rather vulgar, my dear. The word Papa, besides, gives a pretty form to the lips. Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes, and prism are all very good words for the lips: especially prunes and prism. You will find it serviceable, in the formation of a demeanour, if you sometimes say to yourself in company — on entering a room, for instance — Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes and prism, prunes and prism.”

—  Charles Dickens , book Little Dorrit

Bk. II, Ch. 5
Little Dorrit (1855-1857)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote ""Papa is a preferable mode of address," observed Mrs General. "Father is rather vulgar, my dear. The word Papa, besides…" by Charles Dickens?
Charles Dickens photo
Charles Dickens 116
English writer and social critic and a Journalist 1812–1870

Related quotes

Agatha Christie photo

“She came in with coffee and biscuits at half-past eleven with her mouth pursed up very prunes and prisms, and would hardly speak to me.”

Agatha Christie book Surprise! Surprise!

Surprise! Surprise! (1965)

Garth Brooks photo

“Mama was a looker,
Lord, how she shined.
Papa was a good'n,
But the jealous kind.
Papa loved Mama;
Mama loved men.
Mama's in the graveyard;
Papa's in the pen.”

Garth Brooks (1962) American country music artist

Papa Loved Mama, written by Kim Williams and G. Brooks.
Song lyrics, Ropin' the Wind (1991)

Markus Zusak photo

“Papa was a man with silver eyes, not dead ones.
Papa was an accordion!
But his bellows were all empty.
Nothing went in and nothing came out.”

Markus Zusak book The Book Thief

Source: The Book Thief

Victor Hugo photo

“And the navy, Papa, will come to Malta.”

Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French poet, novelist, and dramatist

Et la marine va, papa, venir à Malte.
Palindrome attributed to Hugo on the internet, but in no published sources yet found.
Disputed

John Tenniel photo

“Please let me know to what extent you have used, or intend using, the pruning knife.”

John Tenniel (1820–1914) British illustrator, graphic humourist and political cartoonist

Urging Carroll to shorten Through the Looking-Glass; p. 14
M. N. Cohen & E. Wakeling, Lewis Carroll and his Illustrators (2003)

Marilynne Robinson photo

“There is a saying that to understand is to forgive, but that is an error, so Papa used to say. You must forgive in order to understand. Until you forgive, you defend yourself against the possibility of understanding.”

Marilynne Robinson Home

Source: Home

James Brown photo

“Come here sister… Papa's in the swing.
He ain't too hip… about that new breed babe.
He ain't no drag,
Papa's got a brand new bag.”

James Brown (1933–2006) American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag' (1965)
Song lyrics

Markus Zusak photo

“Sometimes I think my papa is an accordion. When he looks at me and smiles and breathes, I hear the notes.”

Markus Zusak book The Book Thief

Source: The Book Thief

W. S. Gilbert photo

“Against our wills, papa—against our wills!”

W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) English librettist of the Gilbert & Sullivan duo

The Pirates of Penzance (1879)

Related topics