Best George Mikes Quotes
- The Art of Conversation could not die in Australia; it never lived. Television did not kill it; there was nothing there to kill. Art
- What beefsteak is to Argentina, flamenco to Spain, cool reserve and self-control in all situations to an Englishman, what vodka is to a Russian and… All
- On the Continent stray cats are judged individually on their merit-some are loved, some are only respected; in England they are universally worshipped as in… Ancient
- In England the boy pats his adored one on the back and says softly, "I don't object, you know." If he is quite mad with… Add
- You must not refuse any additional cups of tea under the following circumstances: if it is hot; if it is cold; if you are tired;… Additional
- People on the Continent either tell you the truth or lie; in England they hardly ever lie, but they would not dream of telling you… Continent
- Once you start buying first aid kits you start having accidents. Accidents
- If somebody tells you an obviously untrue story, on the Continent you would remark, "You are a liar, Sir, and a rather dirty one at… Continent
- Foreigners have souls; the English haven't. English
- On the Continent there is one topic which should be avoided-the weather; in England, if you do not repeat the phrase "Lovely day, isn't it?"… Avoided
- Japan suffered terribly from the atomic bomb but never adopted a pose of moral superiority, implying: 'We would never have done it!' The Japanese know… Accept
- To have created a Welfare State was a great achievement; but we must go on to create a Welfare Planet. Achievement
- Prices in Italy are only slightly lower than in France, which means that Italy is a very expensive country for everyone, natives, visitors and tourists. Country
- They (Americans) have their national game, baseball - which is cricket played with a strong American accent - and they have a national language, entirely… Accent
- The Americans are extremely gadget minded people and American gadgets have a peculiar characteristic: they work. America
- It is great fun dying in the United States of America. It is great fun first of all for the undertakers who make a wonderful… All
- American radio is the reverse of the Shakespearean stage. In Shakespeare's time the world's greatest dramas were acted with the most primitive technical arrangements; on… Acted
- The poor Americans are so busy defending the rights of Hindus in Pakistan, Moslems in India, Jews in Palestine, Koreans in Japan, Italians in Yugoslavia… America
- The English have no soul; they have the understatement instead. England
- When a wicked and unworthy subject annoyed the Sultan of Turkey or the Czar of Russia, he had his head cut of without much ceremony;… Amused
- The British suffer from a most unfortunate superiority complex - unjustified even under Victoria and most certainly hopelessly out-of-date today. British
- The British are proud of their ability to create a muddle and then muddle through all difficulties. I must shake the British pride: muddle is… Ability
- Tel-Aviv airport is still the only airport in the world where each passenger is met by ten relatives. Airport
- I said in my earlier book, and find no reason for retracting my statement, that the famous Jewish sense of humour got lost in transit… Book
- Israel also deprived the world of its chance of shedding tears of genuine sympathy over her destruction. The world resents this; it likes to feel… Chance