“Like a pale martyr in his shirt of fire.”

—  Alexander Smith

Scene 2.
A Life Drama and other Poems (1853)

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 "Like a pale martyr in his shirt of fire." by Alexander Smith?
Alexander Smith photo
Alexander Smith 14
Scottish poet and essayist 1829–1867

Related quotes

Kazuo Ishiguro photo

“Tommy's got his shirt on. His favourite polo shirt.”

Kazuo Ishiguro book Never Let Me Go

Source: Never Let Me Go (2005), Chapter 1, p. 8

William Shakespeare photo

“The moon's an arrant thief, And her pale fire she snatches from the sun.”

William Shakespeare Timon of Athens

Source: Timon of Athens

Robert Graves photo

“Children born of fairy stock
Never need for shirt or frock,
Never want for food or fire,
Always get their heart's desire…”

Robert Graves (1895–1985) English poet and novelist

"I'd Love To Be A Fairy's Child".
Fairies and Fusiliers (1917)

“To treat a poor wretch with a bottle of Burgundy, and fill his snuff-box, is like giving a pair of laced ruffles to a man that has never a shirt on his back.”

Thomas Brown (1662–1704) English translator and writer of satire

Laconics, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919). Compare: "Like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt", Sorbienne (1610–1670); also used in Oliver Goldsmith, The Haunch of Venison.
Source: Brown, Thomas, 1663-1704. Laconics, Or, New Maxims of State And Conversation: Relating to the Affairs And Manners of the Present Times : In Three Parts. London: Printed for Thomas Hodgson ..., 1701. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015013771368?urlappend=%3Bseq=117

Stephen Vincent Benét photo

“The iron ice stung like a goad,
Slashing the torn shoes from my feet,
And all the air was bitter sleet. And all the land was cramped with snow,
Steel-strong and fierce and glimmering wan,
Like pale plains of obsidian.
— And yet I strove — and I was fire
And ice — and fire and ice were one
In one vast hunger of desire.”

Stephen Vincent Benét (1898–1943) poet, short story writer, novelist

Source: Young Adventure (1918), The Quality of Courage

Craig Ferguson photo

“Nothing says romance like hobos, martyrs and decapitations.”

Craig Ferguson (1962) Scottish-born American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, producer and voice a…

On the creation of St. Valentine's Day. (14 February 2010)
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005–2014)

Phil Brown (footballer) photo

“There was pride in the shirt. There was sweat in the shirt. There was blood in the shirt.”

Phil Brown (footballer) (1959) English association football player and manager

1-Oct-2005, Radio Derby
A good washing powder was required after the game.

Oscar Wilde photo

“How pale the Princess is! Never have I seen her so pale. She is like the shadow of a white rose in a mirror of silver.”

Oscar Wilde Salome

Source: Salomé

Bob Dylan photo

“Yonder stands your orphan with his gun, crying like a fire in the sun.”

Bob Dylan (1941) American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and artist

Song lyrics, Bringing It All Back Home (1965), It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Related topics