Laurence Sterne book The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
Book II, Ch. 11.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760-1767)
Invitation to the Journey
Journey Within (1947)
Context: Never do I hesitate to look squarely at the unexpected face that every passing hour unveils to us, and to sacrifice the false images of it formed in advance, however dear they may be. In me, the love of life in general predominates over love of my own life (that, indeed, would never have sufficed to bear me up). May life herself speak! However inadequate I may be in listening to her, and in repeating her words, I shall try to record them, even if they contradict my most secret desires. In all that I write, may her will, not mine, be done!
Laurence Sterne book The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
Book II, Ch. 11.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760-1767)
Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism during British-ruled India
1940s, To Every Briton (1940)
Context: May God give power to every word of mine. In his name I began to write this, and in His name I close it. May your statesman have the wisdom and courage to respond to my appeal. I am telling His Excellency the Viceroy that my services are at the disposal of His Majesty’s Government, should they consider them of any practical use in advancing the object of my appeal.
“(Sylvia to her daughter) Rita, your body may be a temple. Mine is a Chevy Vega.”
Nicole Hollander (1939) Cartoonist
Source: Sylvia cartoon strip, p.105
“When I think of all the harm [the Bible] has done, I despair of ever writing anything to equal it.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet
“I may use mine own as I will.”
Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet (1554–1625) English politician
Robins v. Barnes (1614), Lord Hobart's Rep. 131.
“I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically.”
James Boswell (1740–1795) Scottish lawyer, diarist and author
Quoting Samuel Johnson (16 August 1773)
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1785)