“It is said that the Devil has all the best tunes.
This is broadly true. But Heaven has the best choreographers”

Source: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Last update Sept. 29, 2023. History

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Terry Pratchett 796
English author 1948–2015

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“Why should the Devil have all the best tunes?”

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Attributed to Whitefield, in The Monthly Review, or, Literary Journal, Vol. 49 (June 1773 - January 1774), p. 430; this has also been reported as a remark made by Rowland Hill, when he arranged an Easter hymn to the tune of "Pretty, Pretty Polly Hopkins, in The Rambler, Vol. 9 (1858), p. 191; it has also attributed to Charles Wesley, and sometimes his brother John, as well as William Booth, who popularized it as an addage in promoting his The Salvation Army.
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“Why should the Devil have all the best tunes?”

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Attributed to Wesley in America Over the Water (2004) by Shirley Collins, p. 113, it is earlier attributed to his brother John, in The English Poets: Addison to Blake (1880) by Thomas Humphry Ward, and even earlier to George Whitefield, in The Monthly Review, or, Literary Journal, Vol. 49 (June 1773 - January 1774), p. 430; this has also been reported as a remark made by Rowland Hill, when he arranged an Easter hymn to the tune of "Pretty, Pretty Polly Hopkins, in The Rambler, Vol. 9 (1858), p. 191; as well as to William Booth, who popularized it as an addage in promoting The Salvation Army.
Disputed

William Booth photo

“Why should the Devil have all the best tunes?”

William Booth (1829–1912) British Methodist preacher

Though it is widely attested that Booth used this adage, it originates in the 18th century, being attributed to George Whitefield, in The Monthly Review, or, Literary Journal, Vol. 49 (June 1773 - January 1774), p. 430; it has also been reported as a remark made by Rowland Hill, when he arranged an Easter hymn to the tune of "Pretty, Pretty Polly Hopkins, in The Rambler, Vol. 9 (1858), p. 191, as well as being attributed to Charles Wesley, and sometimes his brother John.
Misattributed

Rowland Hill (preacher) photo

“Why should the Devil have all the best tunes?”

Rowland Hill (preacher) (1744–1833) British preacher

Reported as a remark made by Hill when he arranged an Easter hymn to the tune of "Pretty, Pretty Polly Hopkins, in The Rambler, Vol. 9 (1858), p. 191; it was earlier attributed to George Whitefield, in The Monthly Review, or, Literary Journal, Vol. 49 (June 1773 - January 1774), p. 430, and has also attributed to Charles Wesley, and sometimes his brother John, as well as William Booth, who popularized it as an adage in promoting The Salvation Army.
Disputed

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“The country habit has me by the heart,
For he's bewitched for ever who has seen,
Not with his eyes but with his vision, Spring
Flow down the woods and stipple leaves with sun,
As each man knows the life that fits him best,
The shape it makes in his soul, the tune, the tone”

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Context: The country habit has me by the heart,
For he's bewitched for ever who has seen,
Not with his eyes but with his vision, Spring
Flow down the woods and stipple leaves with sun,
As each man knows the life that fits him best,
The shape it makes in his soul, the tune, the tone,
And after ranging on a tentative flight
Stoops like the merlin to the constant lure.

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