John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Horae Walpole 1717-1797 John Bartlett
1 |
Harry Vane, Pulteney’s toad-eater, |
Letter to Sir Horace Mann, 1742. |
2 |
The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those who feel. |
Letter to Sir Horace Mann, 1770. |
3 |
A careless song, with a little nonsense in it now and then, does not misbecome a monarch. 1 |
Letter to Sir Horace Mann, 1774. |
4 |
The whole [Scotch] nation hitherto has been void of wit and humour, and even incapable of relishing it. 2 |
Letter to Sir Horace Mann, 1778. |
Note 1. A little nonsense now and then Is relished by the wisest men. Anonymous. [back] |
Note 2. It requires a surgical operation to get a joke well into a Scotch understanding.—Sydney Smith: Lady Holland’s Memoir, vol. i. p. 15. [back] |