Patrick O'Brian Quotes

50 quotes in 997 categories

• The Navy speaks in symbols and you may suit what meaning you choose to the words.
• I know of few men over 50 that seem to me entirely human, virtually none who has long exercised authority.
• The sensation of falling into the past is not unlike that of coming home for the holidays.
• After all a book can be represented as a conversation with one’s demon.
• It meant that Diana had not waited for any explanation, however halting and imperfect, but had condemned him unheard; and this showed a much harder,…
• Compulsion is the death of friendship.
• I have often observed that extremely violent noise and activity go with good-fellowship and heightened spirits.
• We understood one another better before ever I opened my mouth
• For a moment Jack felt the strongest inclination to snatch up his little gilt chair and beat the white-faced man down with it...
• I sew his ears on from time to time, sure.
• No man born of woman has ever understood spoken Portuguese.
• Touch and away, Jack?’ asked Stephen. ‘Touch and away? Do you not recall that I have important business there? Enquiries of the very first interest?’…
• Go and see whether the Doctor is about,’ said Jack, ‘and if he is, ask him to look in, when he has a moment.’ Which…
• But the tale or narrative set in the past may have its particular time-free value; and the candid reader will not misunderstand me, will not…
• Wit is the unexpected copulation of ideas.
• Two weevils crept from the crumbs. 'You see those weevils, Stephen?' said Jack solemnly. I do.' Which would you choose?' There is not a scrap…
• Why there you are, Stephen,' cried Jack. 'You are come home, I find.' That is true,' said Stephen with an affectionate look: he prized statements…
• They will not be pleased. But they know we must catch the monsoon with a well-found ship; and they know they are in the Navy--they…
• ...I have had such a sickening of men in masses, and of causes, that I would not cross this room to reform parliament or prevent…
• There is a systematic flocci-nauci-nihili-pilification of all other aspects of existence that angers me.

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