“Braying of arrogant brass, whimper of querulous reeds.”
Hymn to the Sea, Part iii, 8, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
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William Watson (poet) 12
English poet, born 1858 1858–1935Related quotes
“Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths.”
Letter (1581).
“Lay, lady, lay. Lay across my big, brass bed.”
Song lyrics, Nashville Skyline (1969), Lay Lady Lay
“His lockèd, lettered, braw brass collar
Showed him the gentleman an' scholar.”
The Twa Dogs, st. 3 (1786)
“If you think that the brass is not blowing hard enough, tone it down another shade or two.”
Recollections and Reflections
“People accuse me of being arrogant all the time. I'm not arrogant, I'm focused.”
Los Angeles Times (October 31,1999)
Context: People accuse me of being arrogant all the time. I'm not arrogant, I'm focused. I don't make demands. I don't tell you how it should be. I'll give you fucking options, and it's up to you to select or throw 'em away. That should be the headline: If you're insecure, don't fucking call.
“In the army it takes an eight-man working party to help a brass hat blow his nose.”
Source: The Puppet Masters (1951), Chapter 30 (p. 153)
